Salad for weight loss?

Beatlesboy

Beatlesboy

New member
I was wondering what some thoughts were on eating exclusively salad either for a month or two for weight loss. I know the calories would be on the low side, but compared to eating through drive through windows wouldn't eating just salad be a much healthier option?

The reason I'm asking is because the guy that lost 80 pounds in 6 months from eating basically McDonalds salad and apples every day did so because his calories were so low; 1400 for a 278 pound guy. None the less it worked to take off the weight. When I was in the eighth grade I lost quite a bit of weight eating salads every day at Wendy's during the summer.

What is the overall opinion of large calorie deficits (especially if you're very big to begin with). I often find myself eating more that I want to on my diet and justify eating poor food options because a) I can just fit it into my calorie needs for the day and b) my calories can't be too low as it's not good for you.

Thoughts?
 
I just don't understand why people would do that?

To lose weight and keep it off for good you need to make a lifestyle change, what you described is a short term fix.
 
Eating a balanced diet and exercise is the way to go for healthy weight loss. Eating only salads isn’t really balanced. The name of the game to lose weight and keep the weight off is to make a lifestyle change, as austin_88 mentioned.

Sounds like you’re frustrated with the rate of your weight loss. Losing weight can be frustrating at times because it can be a slow process. Just keep making healthier choices and get regular exercise. Your body will thank you for it in the long term.
 
if you've already made up your mind about doing a very low cal diet, atleast try to get a good amount of protein in their. Search for protein-sparing modified fast. Its been discussed here before
 
Thumbs Up...

to Dr Mary, and if I can add to that please. Salads are packed with nutrients but you need energy to exercise. If salads are all you eat it will be very hard to exercise at an intensity to really boost your caloric expenditure. Eat to have abundant energy by including some starchy vegetables and low fat protein. The fat will melt away!
 
I agree you need calories and nutrients. When I ate salads they had chicken and the works so to speak in them.

There is always the ideal, but what's more unhealthy: eating fast food every meal or eating a salad every meal?
 
Beatlesboy said:
I agree you need calories and nutrients. When I ate salads they had chicken and the works so to speak in them.

There is always the ideal, but what's more unhealthy: eating fast food every meal or eating a salad every meal?
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Why does it have to be one or the other?

It really all depends on how many calories are in each meal, I can tell you a McDonalds Salad has more calories than a big mac. Thats one of their salads, basically only their garden salad is healthy.

Why can you only eat one kind of meal?
 
It's doesn't have to be one or the other, it's just an example of two extremes. Which one is less bad for you if you will. Someone eating 4,000 calories a day through a little window or 1200 a day in salad.

What are peoples opinion's about the guy from McDonalds who lost 80 pounds? Some called it a starvation diet, but would he have been better off not losing the weight?
 
austin_88 said:
Why does it have to be one or the other?

It really all depends on how many calories are in each meal, I can tell you a McDonalds Salad has more calories than a big mac. Thats one of their salads, basically only their garden salad is healthy.

Why can you only eat one kind of meal?
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According to McDonald's website non of their salads have more calories than a Big Mac. Only if you combine the highest caloric salad with the highest caloric dressing does it surpass a Big Mac in calories. A bag of oranges could have more calories than a Big Mac too, but I would opt for the fruit.

 
Beatlesboy said:
According to McDonald's website non of their salads have more calories than a Big Mac. Only if you combine the highest caloric salad with the highest caloric dressing does it surpass a Big Mac in calories. A bag of oranges could have more calories than a Big Mac too, but I would opt for the fruit.
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In Australia a McDonalds Salad with their Ranch sauce has more calories than a big mac.

I could eat mcdonalds every day and lose weight. That would be easy, they do have some good options.
 
Well a big mac does have a little over 500 calories, so you could eat one for every meal and call it a day and lose weight (assuming your maintenance is above that). What do you think about the large calorie deficit of the guy losing 80 pounds vs. not losing the weight at all?
 
I really wouldn't try to eat only salad, even if it was with paired up with stuff...you would not only drive yourself nuts with the little variety it has, but your still not getting everything you need with it.

I get what you are saying about the two extremes, but i would totally not wanna do either.
 
I was personally thinking of eating salad with protein shakes, oat meal and fruit to comprise most of my diet. I agree you need more calories and nutrients than a salad can provide, but I think basing a meal around a salad and adding the other foods I mentioned to add calories and nutrition would be a good plan, at least for some time.
 
Beatlesboy said:
I was personally thinking of eating salad with protein shakes, oat meal and fruit to comprise most of my diet. I agree you need more calories and nutrients than a salad can provide, but I think basing a meal around a salad and adding the other foods I mentioned to add calories and nutrition would be a good plan, at least for some time.
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If thats what you want to do go ahead.

Just know that you can eat anything you want as long as you have portion control.
 
Beatlesboy said:
I was personally thinking of eating salad with protein shakes, oat meal and fruit to comprise most of my diet. I agree you need more calories and nutrients than a salad can provide, but I think basing a meal around a salad and adding the other foods I mentioned to add calories and nutrition would be a good plan, at least for some time.
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make a list of what your planning on eating in a day. include the cals, protein, carbs and fats as well.
 
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