Angel Locsin’s new 800-calorie diet isn’t for everyone

Angel Locsin’s new 800-calorie diet isn’t for everyone

The 36-year-old actress has recently decided to jump back on the fitness train, but will her 800-calorie diet take her to her destination?

On Tuesday, Angel Locsin revealed that she has started on an 800-calorie meal plan to get back on the fitness track. While she didn’t share what her goals are or how long she plans to do the diet, the health clinic which provided her with the diet program says their meals are “chef-curated and nutritionist-approved” and are tailored to bring “specific and highly —individualized results.”

Angel even gave her followers a glimpse of what her meals on day one looked like, as captured by Philstar Life. Her array of healthy meals included what looked like baked baby potatoes, chicken breasts, apple slices, and sautéed greens. 

Here’s where her health journey hits a road bump. When news of her strict 800-calorie eating regimen made the rounds online, netizens were quick to notice that her intended calorie intake might be too little for her and may not be sustainable in the long run.

The lowdown on low-calorie diets

Low-calorie fad diets have been around for ages, placing a focus on limiting your food intake to just around 800 calories to achieve weight loss more quickly. Some commonly call this the Fast 800 diet, a program popularized by Dr. Michael Mosley, which claims that you can lose as much as 14 pounds in just three weeks.

However, such strict diets have been criticized by nutritionists and dieticians for promoting a short-sighted health goal and an unhealthy relationship with food. They are also misleading, as low-calorie diets tend to send the message that subjecting yourself to a staggering calorie deficit is the solution to shedding weight.

It isn’t as simple as that. Sans the proper recommendation by a registered nutritionist, sticking to a calorie-deficient diet might lead to fatigueweakened bonesnutrient deficiencylower metabolism, and a compromised immune system. These are due to an obvious reason: since you’re consuming less, your body is also getting less of what it regularly needs.

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(Image: Unsplash/Louis Hansel)

You also run a higher risk of developing gallstones when following a rapid weight loss plan. This is because your liver is forced to secrete more cholesterol as your body starts to break down fat for energy. When cholesterol combines with bile, gallstones can form.

Moreover, while you may reach your goal of slimming down, such a rigorous regimen might not be sustainable the longer you get into it. Aside from largely reducing the calories you need for your body’s basic expenditures, you’re also more prone to falling into binge-eating habits as a result of crash dieting. You can only squeeze in so many sorts of foods into 800 calories to meet a balanced diet. 

So is it good or bad?

While this is always the ultimate question, it can’t categorically be answered — and shouldn’t be by a blog you read off of the internet. 

We’re giving Angel the benefit of the doubt on her most recent regimen change. She didn’t disclose all of the stuff that led her to a lifestyle tweak, as well as other changes she committed to doing to reach her fitness goal, so it’s not our place to judge.

This is because the answer depends on various factors — your body weight, basic caloric expenditure, daily activities, fitness goal, target nutrients, required exercise, and so much more — and you’re much better off getting it from a nutritionist who’s done extensive evaluations on your present condition than any fad diets you see online

This is also why we’re giving Angel the benefit of the doubt on her most recent regimen change. She didn’t disclose all of the stuff that led to her lifestyle tweak, as well as other changes she has committed to doing to reach her fitness goal, so it’s not our place to judge.

However, if you’re still contemplating going on a deprivation diet, just know that your body will immediately tell you whether your diet is good or bad. 

As with the rest of us who are only at the outside looking in, we’re always happy to support Angel on her way to a fitter life!

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