As someone whose second meal yesterday was a late supper at a local sushi bar, preceded by a lunch of a succulent chicken shawarma platter chock full of bits of crunchy skin, the very idea of a near-starvation diet that may increase longevity engenders nothing less than sheer horror.Adherents of Calorie Restriction follow a diet that leaves their bodies close to starvation in the hopes that such a regimen will radically increase their life span. Or so I learned yesterday after reading a fascinating article about it in this month's New York Magazine.
The author, Julian Dibbell, gives the movement a fair shake. He cites scientific evidence that curtailing caloric intake in mice increases their life span 50 percent. He also makes what I consider a monumental sacrifice by toeing the CR line for two months.
Perhaps diet is the wrong word for the CR approach to eating. Hunger strike is more apt. Dibbell's 1,800 calorie a day diet caused him to lose 21 pounds. This comes as no surprise given that he says the minimum intake for an adult male is 2,500 calories. Upon meeting him at a dinner party, several long-time CR proponents expressed concern that he should eat more. When I read that some of the folks at the party asked whether Dibbell was having his blood checked, I realized the whole concept is like Super Size Me flipped on its head.
Even if this austere approach where one portions out greens by the gram were to make me live to 100, I know I'd be miserable. For one thing, there's no way I'd be able to indulge in barbecue. And I'd run the risk of blowing my daily caloric intake with a pint of stout.
The author had the good sense to end his two-month period of deprivation with an orgy that included fast food and deli meats. Speaking of deli meats, Josh Ozersky erstwhile Slashfoodie now editor of New York magazine's food blog Grub Street had an amusing take on CR. A typical breakfast under his idea of caloric reduction would consist of a dried endpiece of Katz's salami (paper removed), a White Castle burger and a cup of tea. Now that's austere.
10-26-2006 @9:57AM Nikolas Green said... I never post on blogs, but since I read this article a few days ago I figured that I would. I'm studying to become a dietitian and I'm an amateur bodybuilder. It's pretty interesting because the CR diet is very similar to what we in the bodybuilding community call a pre-contest diet. It's the exact same thing. I've been living on 1500 calories for the past few 60 days; no big deal.
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10-26-2006 @10:21AM melissa said... Seriously, 1800 calories is not starvation - depending on his height, that's probably a healthy weight loss range for him to be eating. I'm in no way proposing that anyone should consume beneath the starvation line, but the example given isn't a starvation diet at all. I've been eating between 1200-1600 calories per day (as a 5'8" female) as part of a healthy weight loss programme and doing just fine, and am healthier than I've ever been in my life (and 40 pounds lighter).
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10-26-2006 @10:32AM Kacee said... I actually read this article yesterday and was also completely fascinated. I don't think the number of calories falls into the "normal" category, especially after hearing them add and subtract individual leaves of lettuce to reach the perfect weight for a salad. As well as the infinite number of calculations required to come up percentages of nutrients and vitamins in each meal. I am all for the idea of everything in moderation. But this lifestyle would drive me insane--
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10-26-2006 @1:10PM Derek said... How else are you supposed to lose weight besides restricting calories (and exercise). Isn't this Dieting 101?
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10-26-2006 @1:47PM Alice said... Back when I need to lose weight, my doctor had me go on a 1400 calorie a day diet. Pretty standard stuff.
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10-26-2006 @2:15PM Miranda said... The basic premise of losing weight is, yes, burning more calories than you take in. That is, eat less, exercise more. So I guess the severity of this plan depends on your level of activity. Given the sedentary nature of most Americans, 1800 calories a day might not be a bad idea. But this isn't a "diet" it's a lifestyle. You're eating is such a way as to make you lose weight for the rest of your life.
I'm all for paring down and living more frugally and responsibly, but this is just an example of how privileged we are: we can *choose* to starve and we can do it in such a way that it doesn't kill us as it does so many people. It should make you pretty angry if you think about it.
Furthermore, this can really only be considered an obsession with food and reminds me of Nicole's recent post regarding Orthorexia (http://www.slashfood.com/2006/10/12/orthorexia-healthy-eating-gone-too-far/).
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10-26-2006 @2:51PM Leat said... Im a marathoner (not training right now, but, still run alot), on a non-run day i probably take in about 2000 calories bewteen breakfast and lunch. Heck my recovery drink is about 1000 calories.
Cant imagine what 1800 cals a day would be like.
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10-26-2006 @4:38PM Heather said... Why on earth should this make you angry? Unless everything about life in the developed world makes you angry, in which case, damn you must be angry. Maybe it's an "obsession," maybe not, but I prefer not to pathologize everything I don't personally care for.
To me, this is just like giving up drinking, smoking, and everything else fun. You don't actually live longer, it just feels like it. But more power to these people if they can stand to measure out their lives in lettuce leaves.
Incidentally, this has nothing on the "diets" girls went on when I was in high school...1000 calories a day. Now that's pathological!
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10-26-2006 @4:49PM Bill said... You actually have a 50% longer life space.....it just seems that way.
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10-26-2006 @7:13PM Obvious said... Here's the real question: why would you want to increase your lifespan by doing this? What possible reason, other than an irrational fear of death and the unknown, could you have for torturing yourself into a longer stay in the physical realm?
I say, go eat a cheeseburger. You could be dead tonight due to unfortunate circumstances.
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10-27-2006 @8:01AM esmereldagrubb said... This sounds like anorexia in disguise!
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10-27-2006 @12:04AM Bob Cavanaugh said... I and my wife have been on Calorie Restriction (CR) for the past five years. I eat 1800 calories per day and weigh 150 at 5 ft. 10 inches height and I'm 58 YO, a retired Marine Corps Captain and have worked as a self employed landscape contractor for the past 20 years. I currently weigh the same as when I graduated high school in 1966. During the first 18 months of CR I lost 28 pounds and my weight has been constant since then. My wife similarly lost about 20 pounds and is steady at 120 pounds and 5ft. 6 inches.
I know the members who were interviewed and worked behind the scenes with Julian to prepare the article since I am the Secretary of the Calorie Restriction Society and the Editor of the quarterly newletter.
The members interviewed practice CR at the extreme end. There are outliers like this in any diet program. The majority of CR practitioners are not as extreme. Unfortunately, these were the only members willing to be interviewed in the NYC area. There are nearly 50 members in the vicinity.
There is no hunger involved as weight is lost because most CR meals are pretty large in vegetable bulk. There are no cravings for food as long as you make sure you are getting all required nutrients, which can only be monitored using appropriate software. After about 3 months, you don't need the software anymore because by now you know what to eat and how much of each type of food.
Your food choices are tailored around what you normally eat. You simply eat alot more of the good foods and a lot less of the bad foods. I still eat beef, pork, and everyhing else I've always liked, including beer, booze and wine. I just eat in different rations and proportions. It is a simple program to follow and once you educate yourself by using the software, it is very hard to go off the diet because you simply know too much about nutrition and the consequences of poor diet.
I am confident that Julian suffered gastro/intestinal distress after his junk food binge. I am equally confident that he will make better food choices from now on as a result of his two month adherence to CR.
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10-27-2006 @7:33AM Joe D. said... Bob,
Thanks for a real-world take on CR. For a little while I thought everyone on CR was sitting around eating whole grains and arugula. Glad to hear you still fit in your favorite foods and libations.
Joe D.
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10-30-2006 @11:44AM Musicofthenight said... Lady, I was anorexic for years before receiving treatment, and I took in between 500 and 700 calories on a normal day. 1200 is considered the minimum a person should take. 1800 is an extremely healthy approach to weight loss unless you're 6'4". This is not anorexia, believe me.
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10-27-2006 @2:16PM Amy Evers said... I have lived on less than 2000 calories a day for years! I am 5 feet 6 inches and weigh between 117-122. I do not think of it as starving myself because I am not hungry. You do not have to have 4500 calories a day to feel full. I will normally eat a turkey sandwich on wheat bread for lunch (less than 500 calories) instead of eating a big mac or cheeseburger that would blow a good 1000-1500 calories just on lunch!
Its not all just about counting lettuce leaves, you can eat other stuff than vegetables. Ever heard of baked lays chips?
Amy
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10-27-2006 @2:16PM Amy Evers said... I have lived on less than 2000 calories a day for years! I am 5 feet 6 inches and weigh between 117-122. I do not think of it as starving myself because I am not hungry. You do not have to have 4500 calories a day to feel full. I will normally eat a turkey sandwich on wheat bread for lunch (less than 500 calories) instead of eating a big mac or cheeseburger that would blow a good 1000-1500 calories just on lunch!
Its not all just about counting lettuce leaves, you can eat other stuff than vegetables. Ever heard of baked lays chips?
Amy
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10-27-2006 @2:19PM jjjjudy said... the only way to lose weight is to decrease calories. either by taking in less or by burning them off with exercise - it's not brain surgery... i love my friends who are doing atkins who will eat the middle of a sub, but not the breat. and then eat another... without the bread again. and wonder why they don't lose weight... "because you just consumed 2,500 calories you idiot". an 1800 (ADA) cal. diet is a standard in most hospitals for weight maintenance in the dietary department
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10-27-2006 @2:28PM susie q said... I have struggled with obesity my whole life. I remember when at 12 years old my mother had me on a 1200 calorie a day diet. MY mom is a good person but this was in the early seventies when no one had a disorder just no will power.. So she tried to help. And she would say to me when I told her how hungry I was that I had enough fat stored up that I needed to use that first. Needless to say Weight will always be a issue. BUT i have a beautiful face LOL
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10-27-2006 @2:38PM Anna said... All you're doing is restricting CALORIES. Not nutrients and vitamins! That's the key here. It's only starvation, in my mind, if you are restricting your HEALH and getting bony with no muscle mass as a result and are suffering from fatigue and headaches. This is not restricting anything BUT calories! CALORIES PEOPLE! CALORIES! NOT NUTRIENTS AND VITAMINS AND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO SUSTAIN LIFE. If I can sustain life on 0 calories a day, that would be a dream come true. But of course I KNOW you can't! You need calories, unfortunately. But if you are a very active person then this diet may or may not be for you. Depending on what the experts say. I totally support this diet. Anything that restricts CALORIES (calories, remember) and not NUTRITIOUS FOOD, then I'm all for it.
They say white flour and sugar and some other starchy white foods are addictive like cocaine and some people leave out the white foods and don't crave it anymore. I think if you leave out all this junk like fattening mayo, you will love eating all these calorie restricted foods. You just have to get the bad cravings out of your system.
My father's a diabetic, restricts his salt and sugar intake succesfully and is a burst of energy at the age of 70 and is not only thin but strong. Even his doctor asks HIM for advice on how to stay slim! And the thing is my dad does not crave junk food, alcohol, fast food, sugar or salt. But he eats large amounts of everything else, like oatmeal, vegetables, healthy made meats and so on. He still has his hash brown, eggs, certain healthy oils, fruits, salt free chips, sugar free icecream and cookies and so forth. Once in a while, and I mean rarely, he'll have some fattening restaurant or fast food. No big deal. He just does not overindulge. And he only sleeps 4 hours a day, except on vacations when he likes to relax and sleep longer.
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10-27-2006 @2:43PM Anna said... AND my dad's young looking! Does not look 70 at all and still gets hit on by women (to my mother's jealous dismay)!
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