Would you lose weight if you stopped eating solid foods for approximately 2-3 weeks and just drank a lot of water and Gatorade type drinks?

Answer 1

Exactly right. And losing muscle mass is what you do NOT want to happen. Ever heard of Leucine? It is proven to help your body retain muscle mass. Shaklee has introduced a new program that is "powered by Leucine." I have lost 23 lbs with Cinch. I have tried LOTS of different diets. This is one that I can really live with. The amount of energy that I have is a good thing. Check it out.

Of course.

This type of diet is typical of fasting/famine and would most assuredly result in weight loss. The weight a person lost in this manner would be predominately excess fluids, "water weight", not fat and would be the first thing gained back when a normal way of eating was resumed. If someone continued a diet like you described, they would next lose muscle mass.

Muscle is what burns the majority of calories. The other thing this process would do is slow down a person's metobolism, which is the rate at which they burn fat, think, move (and other things as well). A slow metabolism would not only eventually stop all weight loss, no matter how few calories were consumed, but would also cause a large weight gain once normal eating was reestablished. (think Oprah in the early 90's)

Building, enlarging and increasing muscle mass, which in turn needs more fuel (calories), is the best way to lose fat over time. Eating well, eating often and building muscle mass speeds up a person's metabolism, which allows them to convert stored fat into muscle (which is smaller), and have more energy (amount of calories burned). These are some of the reasons that a fast, fad diet is not recommended and sensible long-range weight management is the best method of actually achieving permanent weight loss.

You sure would lose weight and I hope you aren't thinking of doing this or you will end up in ER. Your body needs nutrients. If you want to lose weight I have heard that the "Atkins Diet" is doing wonders, but there is controversy over it, so please talk to your doctor before going on this diet.

Drinking water is a good way to cleanse your body of fat (while you are on a GOOD diet) and I found correct eating habits make you lose weight. I lost 45 lbs., on "Weight Watchers." No ad intended here at all, but it corrects bad eating habits which we can all have when we are so busy.

Please see your doctor about the "Atkins Diet" and keep drinking 8 - 10 glasses of water a day, but eat!