UseOf_A_Weapon

Dr. Roy Walford is a researcher at UCLA medical school and has been studying the benefits of low calorie diets since the late 60s. In conjunction with Dr. Rick Weindruch of the University of Wisconsin, he is proving that a low calorie diet may improve immune system response, severely decrease the damage caused by free radicals in the body and possibly even extend the life span.

Here is an excerpt from a transcript of the show Scientific American Frontiers on which the doctors were featured (the section titled "Eat Less, Live Longer")

PBS - Scientific American Frontiers:Previous Shows:Transcripts:Never Say Die



now, as a fighter i;m sure you're saying to yourself, "why the hell would I eat a low calorie diet?". Well, in order to make this diet effective for an athlete you need to determine how many calories it takes for you to maintain your weight at your current activity level. Obviously if you cut down to a 1000 cal diet you'd lose 20 lbs and wouldn't live through your workout. so adjust properly. here are some benefits:

USNews.com: Health: In Brief: Nutrition and Diet: Low-calorie diet keeps the heart looking young

other studies are suggesting that a low cal or controlled cal diet may also offer:
improved mental acuity
increases energy
lowers cholesterol
improves blood sugar levels
promotes more restful sleep

something else to consider is that reduced calorie diets are one of the most effective ways to cut weight and its the least risky. diuretics leave you dehydrated and they empty your body's electrolytes.

i am a 145lb-er. so this diet works awesome for me. i work out 5 days a week and do weight training and cardio. while it works for me i can see that it would not do too well for the higher weight classes as they need more calories to maintain weight. fact remains, that if you can't use it every day, then it still works for cutting weight. it will leave you in superb fighting condition and you wont have to chug water by the gallon to rehydrate.

again, this is not for everyone- but i put it up for the consideration of those who could use it.
tell a friend.

IronMan

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UseOf_A_Weapon

i agree totally. if you use a low cal diet, it is crucial that the calories you take in be nutrient dense. one of the articles elaborates.

When taking supplements like multi vitamins and omega complexes it is better to take them (as much as you can) from food sources. the pills lack a number of key chemicals that signal specific reactions in our bodies and in lacking these chemicals the supplements aren't implemented in the same way as they would be in nature. in many cases, however they just aren't absorbed in the same quantities (this is why the dosage of Bs and C vitamins in multi's are so high).

but thats another thread altogether...

for a good low cal meal i typically eat a large portion of leafy greens (spinach, kale, collards, etc.) with some nuts, and a lean protein. also a fruit, usually mangoes, bananas and papyas. I also only use protein isolates for sports supplementation. (Isopure, to be precise. zero carbs, zero sugar and very low cal.) I don't go for Nox, Creatine or any of the crazy stuff thats out there. I try to get by just on diet and it works for me. I prefer to fight @ 145. I walk around at between 140 and 150lbs., depending on how recently i've eaten and how much i've let myself indulge that week...

glad you liked the post IronMan.