Low calorie diet - how tough is it and how to get on it

While I have no personal experience of low calorie diets, I'm rather surprised that somebody who's been a member for as long as you is asking about this in this way.

1. Surely the best forum to ask in is the Low Calorie Diets forum rather than in the Type 2 Diabetes one?
2. The diet you ask about is the 'Newcastle' diet made famous by the 'DIRECT study'. There are several variations, but at its core its an 800 KCal per day, shakes based- diet lasting for between 8 and 12 weeks before transitioning to a more moderate calorie maintenance diet (before the 800KCal per day damages your body and metabolism too much).

Alcohol is not specifically excluded, but it would be very difficult to fit any alcohol within the daily calorie limit.

I don't know how much NHS support there is for this diet, but many people just do it themselves (often using advice from Dr Michael Moseley's 800 Calorie diet books).

The problem we hear about for most isn't the initial 8 to 12 weeks, it's the transitioning to a more sustainable diet. So, for some, there's a tendency for it to be another YoYo diet.

The follow-up studies to the original DIRECT study show (for T2 Diabetes) a 5yr success rate of well below 20% - so do you feel lucky?

Have you been unable to do the Low Carb way of eating (no calorie restriction), which has a much better 5yr success rate for both T2 Diabetes and weight loss.

Just a reminder that the starter of this thread is specifically asking about low calories diets, not low carb ones. Please keep to the topic of the thread. A number of posts have been deleted by mods as they were off topic.

Relevant forum rules are
A3. Respect others’ differences. Do not disparage because they do not share your opinion or way of doing things. If you find an error then correct it constructively. State your source for the correction so there is no doubt about it.

B3. Diet is a relevant, but sensitive topic and should be treated as such. Please be considerate to other people’s dietary choices.

B4. There is rarely one way of dealing with diabetes. Be tolerant and courteous to those preferring to adopt a different approach.

SOTR said:

I have not seen a GP regarding Type II for a long time. Yes I ahve seen practice nurses for foot checkups and when asked they say make an appointment with the GP.
We all know how difficult it is to get a face to face consultation with a GP these days.
I would like to ask anyone who has done it

a) how tough is the restricted calorie diet - the one which is OKed by NICE?

b) when you are on it do you feel weak or lethargic at all, as I amd working (at a desk job)

c) how do you get put on the diet

I Am reasonably confident I could stick to the diet - many years ago I got put on the triple therapy for an ulcer and coped fine with no alcohol for the length of e treatment

Click to expand...

High @SOTR.
There seems to be a ‘post code lottery’ for getting on the NHS programme.Also, strict criteria to be funded. Though it is possible to purchase meal replacement products and follow the method through yourself. I would recommend checking with GP or nurse, or pharmacy, if you are on medication as this may need to be adjusted.

This is the NHS info about it.

As someone who did use the method , albeit when it was first in the experimental stages of programme development, in 2011, and called the Newcastle Diet.
This is the Information about that study and method.

To answer your questions,
a) I did not find it difficult to follow, using the total food replacement method, three soups or shakes a day made with products that were available. They were low carb too, which meant I achieved ketosis. (Used stored body fat for energy) .With ketosis you don’t feel hungry. Social occasions could be tricky. So I made sure there were no big events to attend, and that I had support of those close to me and my GP surgery.

b) I did not feel weak, or lethargic. In fact I had lots of energy, and was able to do 10 sessions a week of intense water based exercise.

c) I was not ‘put on the diet’. I had been seeing the NHS obesity management service, and the only help they could offer was bariatric surgery. I did my own research, and discovered that the Newcastle team were undertaking a study to determine if VLCD would be an alternative to surgery. I persuaded my doctor to support me in trying.

My blood glucose levels fell to normal within a few days. I lost a total of 49kg through doing the total food replacement diet in phases. 12 weeks, break of 4 weeks, 9 weeks, break of 4 weeks, 6 weeks.

My HbA1c levels remained in non-diabetes levels for over two years. I did regain some 20 kg afterwards. My mistake was not having a follow on plan.
For this reason, I always make sure I tell people considering this method that it should not be regarded as a quick fix. If you return to your previous way of eating you will have wasted your time and effort. By all means, should you want to try it, be aware that you need to do reseach for yourself, check for support from HCPs, have a follow on plan. I would recommend low carb way of eating for life.