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You certainly can't base your calorie intake on mine so I'm not suggesting that. I am a large guy that even if I had zero fat on my body I'd weigh 250 lbs probably and I am 6'6". But I eat 2200 calories a day post-sleeve and the world hasn't ended. I still lose weight because it is below my BMR. I don't know your height, weight, age, etc... but I would imagine that 1100 calories is probably still under your BMR. You'll be fine. You can't live on 5-600 calories a day the rest of your life. The important things to do in this early stage, in this order and in my opinion are: 1. Make correct food choices -- protein, first. Healthy food first. If you get to the end of your day and still have calories left and you've hit all your macros then you can have a reward. I usually eat a half a cup of ice cream on days like that. Calories are calories. Don't buy the bull that there are 'bad calories.' It is all situational. If cookies are a building block of your diet then yes, that is bad. Not because the calries in a cookie are worse than the calories in a piece of chicken but because they are devoid of any nutrition. This is why you wait until the end of your day for any 'reward' food. If I have 200 calories left over on my day and I've hit all my macros, I use those 200 calories on whatever the hell I want. You should do the same. It keeps me from craving those things by occasionally enjoying them as treats. 2. Drink water, tea or some form of zero calorie liquid all day, every day. It will help with weight loss and constipation. 3. Log everything that goes into your mouth. You have to learn to do this because it makes you keenly aware of what you can and cannot eat. It makes you aware of what you are eating, too. 4. Get active. Don't squander this opportunity. For many of this -- at least, I felt this way for myself -- this is the last chance to live a long, healthy life. You don't want to go out without your best shot. If the weight beats you, don't let it be because you didn't give it your all. 5. Do not weigh yourself daily if you freak out about weight gain. If you must always weigh yourself at the same time every day. First thing in the morning, last thing before you go to bed and keep that routine. The reason being, your weight WILL fluctuate day to day and even during the day based on hydration levels and in the case of this surgery, constipation is cruel to your scale numbers too.

Ok. So I WILL reply to this one. The "truth" hurts? Girlfriend, your OPINION is NOT "truth" just as MY opinion is not truth. You can totally own your experiences, but what you've done does not apply to all, I am proof of that. First and foremost, anyone who "decides to have the sleeve" and is on the table two weeks later really needs to do some self reflection as does anyone who will openly state that they did not realize this procedure was permanent. I am also 5'3, was sleeved while I was "young" (by your definition) and my body is MUCH healthier than it's ever been. My body fat is down to the low end of the "ideal" range and butted right up to "lean". I have some loose skin, for sure, but underneath it, I am strong and fit. I did my research, I worked my plan, and I exercised my body. Anyone who does not is operating on foolishness. I must say, I'm curious. If you are such an expert on weight gain/loss/nutrition/fitness, why the regain? Why is your regain the fault of the sleeve? Serious question.

There are many reasons people gain weight back. Try not to foucus on other peoples weight gain or weight loss. Concetrate on your own sucess and goals for surgery. The goal is healthy. ; I'm two and a half years out. I maintain in the 130's. I weigh myself every morning. If I see a weight gain I adjust my food and workout. So far so good. Sent from my SM-G920T using the BariatricPal App

Hi everyone. I too was banded on Nov. 20th. I just found the forum today after researching weight gain after surgery. I have gained 5 pounds post-op and have become very concerned. However, after reading the posts from others it seems to be normal. I hope all of you are doing well after your surgery. I am having some pain but it is dissipating. My husband thought I was a little crazy in going Christmas shopping yesterday. I am due back at work on Monday and my little one turns five tomorrow. No rest for the truly wicked! Hope to hear some of your experiences soon. Marilyn

I am pretty new to all of this, but I have never been more sure of a decision in my entire life. Many people at my job have had either the sleeve or bypass, and are happy with their decision. This is my story: I am pre-op--haven't even been to the doctor yet. My seminar date is 2/21, and I CAN'T WAIT!! I am female, 45 years old, 5ft 6in., 236lbs., BMI of 38.1. I would have this surgery tomorrow if I could! I am sooo ready to get this weight off me. I was not always heavy. In my teens, I was in the 120s. In my early 20s, I was around 130-150lbs. My weight has always fluctuated. By the time I was 30, I was 170-180lbs and getting very uncomfortable with my weight. By my mid-30s, I was around 200lbs. Once in my 40s, I stayed at 226 for about 3 years, until this last year, where I am now 236 and FED UP. As I get older, the weight keeps coming on, and my energy level is almost non-existent. I have high blood pressure. In 2009, I lost approximately 35 pounds. I got down to 192. I was feeling FANTASTIC!! Then, within a year, I packed all the weight back on plus more, and my blood pressure was severely out of whack. It took me a solid year to get it back in check. I was having nosebleeds, and had to see a cardiologist because my heart rate was irregular, and I had developed a murmur. After many tests on my heart, everything was ok, except my left ventricle was slightly enlarged and not closing all the way, causing the murmur. I was put on an ace inhibitor to correct my hpb as well as, my heart irregularities. My father passed away at only 52 years old in his sleep. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure at only 48 years old and told he had 5 years to live. He lived 4 years to the day. My father wasn't a large man--far from it. He was 5ft 11in and 180lbs. It runs in my family. And being obese on top of it scares the heck out of me! I have only told a few people about my plan to have this surgery. I think my older sister--who has no idea what it is to be overweight, because she is 150lbs and thinks she's "fat" --will give me a hard time about it, but I have to do what makes me happy and, more importantly, healthy. I am so tired of the lack of energy, the hbp pills, the joint aches and pains, the fear of a premature death and/or massive heart attack, the feeling of being out of control with food, the fear of the future weight gains, and the humiliation of being overweight. I just want to be normal again! Sure, I have anxiety over some things that are involved with this surgery--complications, losing most of my stomach, the inability to have certain food for the rest of my life, but the yearning for being healthy and thin far outweigh all of the anxiety. The morning of my surgery, I'm sure I will be terrified, because I am a chicken when it comes to things like that! But I realize it is the means to an end, and the beginning of a new and better life, and a chance to one day be able to see my grandchildren (when my daughter has them!) Those are the things that make this worth it to me. I am so thankful to have this forum and the support of all you wonderful people that understand my journey and are willing to share your stories. Many of your have helped me so much so far. I am getting a wealth of information from the real people that have been there through each step, and for that, I am beyond thankful! We are all in this together! God bless us all for having the courage to undertake such an endeavor! :wub:

i had no symptoms at all except weight gain. they did the fluroscope Wednesday morning and that's how they found mine. she said with me having no chest pain, no reflux, no throwing up that i prob caught it early so i'm hoping liquids will fix it and no surgery.

Newgrandmother.. You're lookin awesome! I had to do a double take on your pic because I thought it was two different people! Hang in there and stay positive. My situation is a bit differnt because all my weight gain was in the last year since my band removal so I still have all my old jeans and just shop in my closet. If it wasn't for that I swear I'd go insane if I had to physically try to find pants that fit. I HATE shopping for pants! Clothing sizes makes no sense to me

I'm 5 weeks postop I've lost up to 46lbs since surgery. Since this weekend I've gained like 5 lbs out of nowhere. Have not cheated and have almost had to force myself to eat because I'm not really hungry and exercised every day. Feeling frustrated. I know I should be grateful for what I've lost but irritated at the gain.

Thanks for all of the replies you guys, it just sucks to be at goal buy all these nice clothes and now you can't fit them anymore but I did it to myself and I'm doing something about it now and once I reach goal again I'm going to stay there cause I never want to feel this way again. I got a good man he saw the 25 pound weight gain and never complained he's away for six weeks when he gets back I hope to be at least 135 when he first met me wish me luck.

I can so relate to you. I am 4ft 11 1/2 in and weigh 187. I feel i have to justify to everyone why i want to do this. I am so sick and tired of everyone telling me i don't need this as i also carry my weight in the right places. A weight gain of 5lbs on me looks the same as a 15lb weight gain on a taller person. Tired of the yo yo. I am telling my job i am going on vacation. Taking 10 days off but it's more like 14 if u include the weekend. Surgery is April 13th. Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App

Congrats!! I'm actually going on 33 weeks with twins and no weight gain. I'm a year and four months out. I'm excited too!!

Hi - i don't take it when I am on liquids just when I am on foods. I didn't really ask about the fills but thats how it was when i was on the liquids... and a couple of days won't kill me. I just started retaking it... and guess what - as everyone else who has been saying here - now I am back to eating (maybe not as much as before... but definitely I'm looser. But I feel restriction if that makes sense. Today i had 1600 calories!!! have been between 500-900 on the fills... I don't even know how that happened today. I did work out alot not sure if that is it... or maybe I am PMS cuz I was cravey. Back on the Met though. That should help.. Anytime i had SIGNIFICANT weight gain it was because I went off met for a long time.

You (excuse me, we) didn't get fat from one day of overeating! But several days that turn into several weeks of overeating will result in big weight gains. This will not be the last time this happens, so you need a game plan, to follow when it does happen. I agree with Jack, except I do full liquids for at least two meals, followed by a small salad with some Protein for dinner. I do two days of this , depending on how bad the "bad" day was. Track your protein while on liquids and keep them high. Drink Water between meals.

Eh, it's a myth. Calories in + Calories out = Weight Loss or Weight Gain. There is no mythical beast that hides within you holding a clock who will add weight to your booty if you eat at 6:01p or even 11:35pm unless you've taken in more than you've burned. That's true for pre and post op.

I've had far too many surgeries . I have a rare type of brain tumor that helped contribute to my weight gain. I'm doing this, like everyone else, to try to reduce my morbidity. But with my underlying condition I'm virtually being a guinea pig in hopes it will help, but I guess someone has to be the first one to do it, so here I go!

I used to smoke too. I smoked for 25 years :/ Every time I would go to the doctor for anything they would blame it on smoking. "Your back hurts? It's because you smoke. You have a cold? It's because you smoke. You have an ingrown toenail? You smoke."!!!!!!! Every single time. Then I quit smoking cold turkey. I gained 60 pounds. Now when I go to the doctor it's "Your back hurts? You're overweight!" LOL Seriously. That is exactly how it is. But am I glad I quit smoking. Even with all the weight gain. I feel so much better. And I really loved to smoke. I prayed about it while I was quitting. I asked Jesus to help me not to indulge in something so unhealthy for me. I should have prayed not to replace cigarettes with twinkies..............SMH

Fish and shrimp with veggies. I had a few French fries because I was too lazy to cook but nothing worse than that. I'm still only able to eat a few bites of whatever I eat so I'm surprised to see the scale go up. Maybe I'm not taking in enough Water. Have you experienced any weight gain since your girlfriend came? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think that's a good idea. That said, the whole you need to gain 25lb thing is a bit of a myth. Your baby needs nutrients, not calories. It takes very few extra calories to grow a baby, perhaps 250 a day in your third trimester. If you are taking in the nutrients your body needs during pregnancy, things will probably be just fine. In my third pregnancy, I gained no weight at all. I kept it completely stable BY DIETING. Moderately - weight watches, 27 or so points a day. With my doctor's blessing. I took a good supplement and I ate really really well because I was already about 210lb when I conceived and had had blood pressure probs resulting in induction twice before. When I had Eliza, she was a healthy 8lb and perfect, and I left the hospital 10kg (25lb) lighter than when I'd conceived. Mild fat loss from YOUR body wont harm your baby. But that said, you've actually lost while pregnant, which would indicate your energy needs arent being met. I'd consider a supplement like your doc suggests, I wouldnt curtail physical activity because it is so good for you, but supplementing calories AND nutrients might be a really good idea. You dont want to lose any more but it probably wont matter if you dont manage to gain much. But bear in mind, that without the weight of your baby, and all the extra fluids in your body now, you actually probably weigh a bit less than 142. You want a bit of condition on you if you want to breastfeed! Good luck, dont let it worry you though, once upon a time a much much smaller weight gain was considered healthy in pregnancy, the standards quoted today are just current trends is all.

Heather, what was your weight gain like in previous pregnancies? I gained none in my third, like I said, but in my previous two before that, it was only 10 or 15lb both times. I'm just not someone who gains a lot of pregnancy weight. Dont even talk to me about what breastfeeding does to me though, I piled it on then!

If you are unhappy with your doctor, find another that you like. You are not going to want to go see your doctor if you don't like him, no matter how good of a doctor he is. I had a problem with my surgeon as well and I just recently found a new one that I LOVE. He is awesome and SO encouraging. Don't be afraid to go back in if you've gained back weight. That's what your doctor is there for, to assist you in the process after your surgery. Trust me, he's seen it before, and probably much more than a 30 lb weight gain, so don't worry about how he's going to react. You have it in you to do it, and it seems like you're on the right track by wanting to make it work and get this fixed. Just stick with it. You can always come here for support if you need it :-)

I appreciate, but am also frustrated with this thread. We all have stories and whether some agree or not, our stories ARE connected to whether or not we ate more calories than we burned off. I gained 40 pounds with one pregnancy and didn't lose it, and nothing (seriously, no weight gain) with my second and then lost 40 right after. I was abused growing up, so I hid in a fat body. I got married and got comfortable. I went to culinary school, surrounded by good and rich foods all day. In my younger years because I was on my feet and working my butt off in restaurants, I was able to maintain my weight eating anything that I wanted. But I was never skinny or thin. As for genetics, one side of the family is all beanpoles and on the other short stubby round folk. I feel like I can relate to a piece of almost everyone here's story. Yes, we put too much food in our bodies. Maybe we did not exercise enough. Yes, we ARE responsible for those actions and more, but that by no means eliminates the "other" reasons we gained weight. I am a food and carb addict. I am at my heaviest weight ever. But I want to change, so here I am on a crazy WLS journey. I will change the way I eat and move but I CANNOT win this battle without facing the psychological reasons for the way I am. Just my 2 cents.

I was very fit, competitive roller skating (figures, dance and freestyle), racing bmx and playing field hockey. In my early twenties I was an ice skating coach and skated 7-10 hours a day 5 days a week. I could eat whatever I wanted for as long as I wanted because I was so active. After giving up coaching and moving to an office job after having a child I ate the same and the weight piled on. I also have an underactive thyroid and have been on meds since I was 18 years old. That coupled with an ankle injury (8 surgeries and another on the way) lead to even more weight gain. Like others here I was also sexually abused - by my grandfather, on my 13th birthday among other times. I dated several guys who have commented about my weight. The last one said to my face "You are too fat to ever be loved" - that was a catalyst for another 25kg weight gain. Ironically then I was only 20kg over weight. I haven't dated in the last 13 years as a way of protecting my already very fragile self esteem. I now have 50kg to lose. My surgery date is Dec 1st 2015. Currently on the pre op diet and gagging at the Protein shakes - too sweet, too powdery tasting but know it's for my benefit so sucking it up!

So, I'm the type of person to obsessively watch the scale. Which I know is completely unhealthy but nevertheless, I do it. So I went into the surgery on Monday 6/6/16 and now it's Friday. Starting weight was 285, and now I'm 292. All the fluids have me completely bloated up, and It's miserable. I just feel so dehydrated no matter what I drink or eat. The first few days I could barely stomach Water so you can imagine that wasn't fun, I was hooked up to IV fluids and had to stay an extra night. Then my blood pressure has been high and my pulse has been low so I had to go back to the hospital and get some more fluids last night. The pain has just started to be manageable without the pills, and i've been trying not to take them because they make me too dizzy, but if I dont take them my blood pressure gets too high. Honestly the recovery is such a bitch and I almost regret it, I just hope that I can get past this stage quickly and start losing weight. I just feel kind of helpless right now..like I'm not gonna lose weight and like it was all for nothing. Please give me some validation that things will be ok and I'm not the only one feeling completely depleted after this surgery.

@@Wayward Traveler Hello, thanks for the response! I've read just about all of your journey. Glad that things are going so well for you. As for my issue, I definitely understand that the Orbera is an aid to weight loss and requires a lifestyle change, and is not a magic pill, which is why I think it would work well for me. I have made several lifestyle changes that have helped me to minimize weight gain now , but the weight is already here. I just need to do something that will help me to get a good start so that I can put into practice the things that I know work for me. Regarding a tummy tuck/lipo, since most of my weight is hips, butt, and thighs, and a little around the middle, I figured a tummy tuck and/or lipo would at least get rid of the little pouch and make me feel a whole lot better. As for the bottom half, I walk and work out so firming up those areas are the least of my worries right now. Overall, I do need to lose weight, but with me being tall, I carry it pretty decently. I know that these two things are very different, but financially, I need to decide which investment is most beneficial to me. My main concern was whether a tool like Orbera was worth the cost versus just going ahead and getting it cut off. Lol! I'm thinking that things like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig and all the other diet plans are much cheaper as tools to weight loss. I am not saying that Orbera is the same, by any means, but, a flatter tummy and less love handles is the end result that I would like to achieve and I could be on my way to that with either option. Back to Orbera...one thing that gives me reserve about is the fear of the side effects. The nurse compared it to morning sickness, which I had very badly during my last pregnancy. I can handle that. But I'm a nurse so I'm concerned with the recovery period and how I might handle that when I go back to work. It would be hard to care for patients with weakness and nausea. How did you feel when you returned to work?

I love this article. Very effectively separates fact from myth. I have no idea however, why it is accompanied by a shot of cleavage. Whatever. Enjoy! 10 Unbelievable Diet Rules Backed by Science By SHAPE magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Sep 3, 2013 2:48 PM EDT by Adam Bornstein for SHAPE.com Ready for this? Everything you thought you knew about nutrition is wrong!When describing how you really feel about the latest miracle fix in the diet and fitness world, you'd probably like to drop an F-bomb-as in, what the fad? After all, how many times have you trusted logical sounding ideas or put all your faith in a diet strategy, only to find out that the time you invested was a waste--and you still haven't dropped the weight? Consider this your F-bomb-free zone. No fads, no faking, and no frustration. You see, when you really dig into the research, most of what you assume is correct about dieting is actually wrong. Discover the truth here and the only f-words coming out of your mouth will be "Finally. Fat loss!" 1. Skip Breakfast if you want. The one diet rule we've heard more than any other: A healthy diet begins with a great breakfast. There's just one problem: A good breakfast doesn't guarantee an overall healthy diet. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the NPD group, nearly 90 percent of Americans now eat breakfast, and yet nearly 50 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. There are two things you should know about breakfast: 1. Timing isn't as important as you think. You don't need to eat immediately (or even within one hour) after you wake up. Your metabolism won't be harmed. 2. Eating an early breakfast means you're creating a bigger eating window (you eat for more total hours during the day), which might lead to more fat storage and more health problems, according to scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. If you eat your first meal at 7 a.m. and eat a late-night snack at 10 p.m., that's 15 hours of eating-which might be more than your body wants. The fad-free truth: No one meal is more important than any other. What matters most is total calorie intake, food selection (think salad versus Big Mac), and then how much time you spend eating each day. So if you don't love breakfast, skip it. If you do, enjoy your morning meal but keep an eye on your feeding window to make sure you're not eating more calories than you need. 2. It's OK to eat a big dinner. We all know that dinner is the most popular meal to eat with friends and family, but most people think eating after dark is the cardinal sin of weight loss. Nothing could be more incorrect. Italian researchers compared eating earlier in the day (10 a.m.) to eating later in the day (6 p.m.) In that study, there was no difference in weight (pounds) lost, but the late eaters lost more fat. Several follow-up studies concluded the same thing-timing doesn't matter. This statement from University of Oregon researchers sums it up well: "Eating too many calories causes weight gain regardless of when you eat them." The fad-free truth: Living in a world where you can't eat at night and can't enjoy food with your friends and family is restrictive and doesn't adhere to any science-backed rules of weight loss. You won't become fat by eating at night-that will only happen if you overeat at night. If you're aware of how much you should be eating within any given day, you can place those calories in whatever meal works best for your body. 3. Snacking does not affect metabolism. We know that when you eat, you burn calories. So about 30 years ago, it was determined that if you eat more frequently, you must burn more calories overall, and thus the "grazing" method was formed and a nation of people began consuming four to six small meals per day. One small problem: French researchers found that there is "no evidence of improved weight loss" by eating more frequently. They even went one step further to show that when it comes to the number of calories you burn per day (i.e. your metabolism), it does not matter if you graze or gorge, assuming that you're eating the total number of calories you need to lose weight. The fad-free truth: If you're told to eat 2,000 calories per day, it doesn't matter if it's separated into five 400-calorie meals or two 1000-calorie feasts. (However the composition of those meals does matter.) What works best for your schedule should determine the number of meals you eat. When Canadian researchers compared eating three meals per day to six meals per day, breaking the six into three main meals and three Snacks, there was no significant difference in weight loss, but those who ate three meals were more satisfied and felt less hunger. 4. Eat carbs to get lean. From Atkins to the Paleo movement, carbohydrates have been criticized more than all of the ladies on the Real Housewives shows-combined. Here's the real reason why carbs get such a bad reputation: Up to 50 percent of the carbohydrate intake in the typical American diet is in the form of highly processed carbs and sugar. So when people say carbs are bad, they're usually just talking about eating lots of sugar. But that's not really fair to every other food that also is labeled a carbohydrate. When compared to a typical American diet, a low-carb diet looks like the undisputed champ. However when compared to a good carb-based diet that is low in sugar, refined foods, and gluten (like the "Japanese Diet"), the results are very different. Before 1991, when Japan was considered a carb-dominate society, diabetes and obesity rates were never greater than three percent of the population. If carbs in general were the enemy, with their high starch intake via rice and sweet potatoes, the Japanese would be the fattest, most diabetic, and unhealthy population on the planet. However this was not the case, and their levels of obesity are a "problem" people in the United States wish they had. The fad-free truth: Your body needs carbohydrates. If you completely remove this essential nutrient from your diet, you could experience a down-regulation of the hormones that control fat loss, making it harder to have the lean, sexy body you want. A good general rule: Eat more carbs on the days you're active and fewer carbs on the days you're sedentary. And make sure most of your carbs come from whole foods such as fruits and vegetables. 5. There is a weight-loss pill worth buying. Most miracle "fat-burning supplements" are about as effective as an hour of Prancercizing. But if you want to take a pill to help promote fat loss, your best bet is a Vitamin that you associate with the sun. Researchers from Canada found that people with higher levels of Vitamin D also have lower levels of body fat. The connection isn't a coincidence. Vitamin D helps you feel fuller because, according to Australian researchers, it releases more leptin, a hormone essential to weight loss. It also helps you store less fat by decreasing parathyroid hormone, which makes you hold on to your love handles. Best of all, vitamin D literally burns more fat by reducing production of the stress hormone cortisol. The fad-free truth: Buying supplements to help you lose weight is not the best use of your hard-earned money. Your foundation is a healthy diet and exercise. But some supplements can help fill nutritional gaps that will help your body function more efficiently. Supplementing with 2,000 to 3,000 IU of Vitamin D3 is a smart investment for your overall health and fat-loss goals. 6. Exercise on an empty stomach. If you exercise with a high intensity, there's nothing worse than feeling sick to your stomach because you felt forced to eat before you hit the gym or pavement. There's a lot of science that shows eating before a workout is important, but "before a workout" is a much wider time range than you might think. In the simplest sense, your digestive process is very complicated. When you eat, the food does not go directly to your muscles or your gut. It takes time-a lot of time, in fact. So if you eat many hours before you train, there's still plenty of fuel to help you perform and feel great. The fad-free truth: Research published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that the Protein you eat digests anywhere between one gram per hour and 10 grams per hour. So if you have a meal consisting of 25 grams of protein, that meal could last in your system for up to 25 hours. Hydration level and sleep patterns also play a significant role in performance, so make sure you're well rested and have plenty to drink, and then eat when it feels best for your body, even if it means a small meal or no meal at all. 7. Eat saturated fat. books like The China Study and movies like Forks Over Knives have pointed the finger at saturated fats-and all animal fats-as the reason for countless health problems. Yet all the research used to support this hypothesis took a very slanted bias and completely ignored populations that were incredibly healthy despite diets based on saturated fats. For example, people who live in Tokelau (a territory off of New Zealand) eat a diet that is 50 percent saturated fats, and they have cardiovascular health that is superior to any other group of people. Even Walter Willett, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard, has publicly stated (after a 20-year review of research) that fats-and more specifically saturated fats-are not the cause of the obesity crisis and are not the cause of heart disease. The fad-free truth: Cholesterol actually acts as an antioxidant against dangerous free radicals within the blood. When there are high levels of undesirable substances in the blood (caused by inflammation in your arteries from eating highly processed foods and large quantities of sugars), cholesterol levels rise in order to combat these substances. Cholesterol is also necessary for the production of a number of hormones, some of which help fight against heart disease. Plus, research shows diets higher in saturated fats are often lower in total calories consumed. 8. Consider fasting for better health. Any diet that has you not eat at all is not a diet-it's starvation. But there's a difference between withholding what your body needs and reprogramming your body so that you can control your hunger and let your body recharge. The idea of fasting is nothing crazy. You do it every night when you sleep, which is a time that that is essential for optimal health. Yet the idea of going several hours without eating during daytime is frowned upon. When done correctly, fasting can actually help your body burn fat, recharge, and stay healthy. You've probably heard of cleanse diets that supposedly rid your body of toxins, improve the functioning of your internal organs, and help you age better. Most of these don't work as advertised. The only real cleanse occurs at the cellular level. It's called autophagy, and it's your body's ability to regenerate and become better. Autophagy makes your brain function a little better, helps with fat loss, and even assists in your ability to walk and breathe. But the more time you spend eating-as in actual hours during the day eating-the less time you spend in the autophagic process, which is why fasting isn't a bad thing. The fad-free truth: Researchers at the University of Utah found that people who fasted just one day per month were 40 percent less likely to suffer from clogged arteries. While there are many ways to fast, the important point is that you shouldn't feel forced to eat if you're not hungry. Short daily fasts (for 12 to 16 hours) or a once-per-week daily fast can have health benefits, and it will teach you to separate boredom or thirst from genuine hunger. 9. Going organic won't help with weight loss. I love my local farmer's market, and I always do my best to purchase products from the best sources. That said, slapping "organic" on a label does not mean it will help you lose weight, and in some instances it won't even guarantee that a food is healthy. Research published in the Annal of Internal Medicine reviewed 200 studies that compared the health benefits of organic foods to conventional foods and the results were surprising: There were no clearly distinguishable benefits of eating organic foods, whether measured by preventing disease or an assessment of overall health. Specific to weight loss, a random comparison of organic to non-organic foods found no significant difference in nutritional information, including calories. The fad-free truth: More research on organic foods needs to be conducted. There's no doubt organic foods have fewer pesticides and toxins, the real question is if the sometimes-small difference in toxins makes any scientifically significant difference on your health. More importantly, labeling a food as organic does not mean its weight-loss friendly. Organic sources of sugar are still sugar. And organic products loaded with 1,000 calories are still 1,000 calories. If you want to reduce the potential of anything bad entering your body, feel free to purchase organic products but still keep an eye on the label. 10. There's no such thing as too much protein. You may have heard that eating lots of protein can cause all sorts of health problems, including kidney stones and gallstones, but this is a moot point for most people. Why? Because there's no research showing any relationship between eating a lot of protein and developing kidney problems. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research tested eating up to 400 grams of protein per day without any negative consequences. If you have a preexisting kidney problem, it's possible that a higher protein diet could be hard on your body. But if you have a kidney problem, you should be talking to your doctor about your diet anyway. The fad-free truth: If you're healthy, you are clear to eat protein and not worry about any health problems-because there are none. What's more, protein is one of the most metabolic macronutrients, meaning that the more protein you eat, the more calories you burn. Just remember that calories are still calories so the rules of total intake still apply.