The Karl Lagerfeld Diet
Karl Lagerfeld is a fashion designer. He is currently the chief executive of design at the House of Chanel.
The world of diets is a strange one, and Lagerfeld added his contribution in 2002. After a massive weight loss of 92 pounds he decided to write his own diet book: The Karl Lagerfeld Diet.
He has managed to keep the weight off: "I eat next to nothing," he says. (from the New Yorker)
Lagerfeld's approach to weight loss is cuttingly superficial:
"If you attach no importance to weight problems, if not being able to wear new, trendy small-sized clothes does not cause you any regret, this book is not for you,"
But then, what kind of nutritional advice can you expect from a fashion designer?
Lagerfeld: On diet
Low fat, low-carb, low-calorie (lots of protein supplements).
Phase I: 800-900 calories per day. Phase II: 1000-1200 calories per day. Phase III: 1200-1600 calories per day.
Lagerfeld: On exercise:
"If you really want to change the look of your breasts, you will need cosmetic surgery. To tone them, sprinkle them with cold water every morning."
Let's consign this one to the bizarre bin.
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Some days a good laugh is what I need to start the day.With a foot of new snow on the ground and still snowing this is one of those days. Thanks!
ReplyAccording to the Amazon reviews, the diet was actually devised by a physician, not the designer himself. Although apparently effective, it sounds like it is only for the super motivated. I would think that it would take quite a bit of effort to turn a paunchy middle-aged couch potato into a model-thin twig. Apparently he is not into muscle building or a lot of exercise. Although calorie restriction may be life-extending, according to animal research, I would never suggest a man consume a diet as low in calories as this one – only 800 – 1000 calories a day. Metabolism, the immune system, and muscle mass are likely to suffer.
ReplyI think intermittant fasting, or shorter delay's of the break-fast may have real, positive effects on life extention and health in the human animal.
ReplyThe Bible recommends intermittant fasting.
ReplyActually, Vince Gironda recommended intermittent fasting for bodybuilders. Because of the tremendous amounts of protein foods you eat while trying to gain muscle, your digestive system can become taxed and less efficient. He also only recommend you bulk for 6 weeks at a time, after which you should go on a high-vegetable diet. This puts the body back in balance after eating an almost pure meat, egg, and milk diet.
ReplyAnd, as crazy as Gironda's methods (and reasoning) sounded, he was usually right. I've found that, with someone like him, the best thing to do is just try it anyways, even if it sounds off. I usually make new progress when I do.
Reply"...sprinkle them with cold water every morning."
Um...hmmmm....I think I run in the 1200-1600 calories per day range (except on the weekends), but less than that, on a consistent basis, would be tough.
ReplyWell I think this diet explains why Lagerfeld looks like a zombie. I'm sure he and Rachel Zoe live on human brains alone.
ReplyActually my friends plastic surgeon told her to ice her breasts regularly to keep them perky- it keeps the tissue constricted and helps prevent sagging after reduction/ breast lifts.
Additionally... its a diet book that it actually honest. People who are that skinny don't eat a full 2000 calories a day. They eat at or slight under their basal metabolic rate which is the minimum number of calories needed to maintain their current weight. Chances are that they eat less than 1500 calories per day and are ED-NOD.
But at least the book is honest to people about exactly how regimented being that thin necessitates.
Replywow. what a way to teach people the true inner monologue of an anorexic person...
ReplyGood Lord! I think I'll just stick to lifting weights, cardio and 2000 calories a day, thanks.
ReplyThat was the best laugh I've had in a few days...lol
ReplyErica, I know many skinny people who eat far more than 2000 calories a day -- and don't exercise.
ReplyI think that Lagerfeld is a negative man spreading a dispicable message, period.
And the entire: Low calorie diet = Life extension needs some MAJOR overhaul. I think it's pure myth like so much of the diet and fat "data" is turning out to be.
ReplyWow, a male anorexic writing about how to lose weight. Wonderful. Wonder if he's related to that fashion editor in one of Jim's other posts on here. Does this diet include cigarettes? Just wondering.
I like Panda's idea...stick around 2000 cals a day and work out. At least that way you can fill out clothes and not look like a hanger.
ReplyI am really suprised that any many would remain standing on 900 calories per day. My husband once dropped his calorie intake down to 1500 and he just kept fainting.
And has anyone actually seen how perky Mr Lagerfield's breasts are?? :-)
ReplySorry i meant ' am really suprised that any MAN would remain standing'
ReplyBut back to KG's diet: well, it's no newsflash, if you starve yourself, you will end up skinny eventually. And "if designer clothes matter more than health, stop eating" is a great message. Thanks, Karl.
ReplyKarl's book--wow. Working at a women's beauty and fashion magazine I've definitely been privy to talk about model's and actress's issues with food and body image--but it's really sad that someone so integrally involved in the fashion industry would pretty much endorse semi-starving. What a backward set of values!
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ReplySunny, in many places in the world, nutrionists and doctors regularly prescribe 600 calorie diets to people in the healthy weight range even, and 800 calories for a woman and 1,000 for a man is considered safe enough that they can recommend it in a magazine to the general population. When I first tried to lose weight, a nutritionist put me on 600 calories a day. I lost 5lb the first month, 2lb the second, a whole lot of sleep from being so hungry, and a ton of hair.
Seriously tho' -- there is some strange advice out there.
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ReplyYou eat at or under your basal metabolic weight and you will be losing weight, not maintaining. Your BMR does not include the Calories burned by digestion or sitting up, much less walking around, or exercise-- which is a requirement for good health.
perhaps mr. lagerfeld should stick to designing super skinny clothes for himself.
ReplyI don't trust Karl Lagerfeld.
ReplyMe neither, especially until we can see how perky his breasts are, like Carla has said. If he is right about that one, then I'll reconsider.
ReplyIf he's not working out and "admits to 68" as in that New Yorker profile and is that skinny, um...ew. Please, Karl, stay clothed. Forever!
Reply1000-1500 is not starving. Back in ye olde days, people went on just fine eating low calorie diets. If your eating alot of fruit, veges and fish, you could stock up quite alot of food in that caloric range. Most of the people claiming that you need to get up to 2000 or you "will faint", are just fat people who right off attractive people as having eating disorders to comfort themselves for their own failures.
ReplyChoirs just sang in my head Mark!!!
ReplyWhat you said was not only the hard core truth but the most sensible thing said yet! Everyone thinks we have to live off of 2000 calories nowadays. What that is, is a curve for all the super obese people. We can survive off of half that or even less!!! Back in the day people probably ate less than 2000cals for the whole week haha. Christians in Egypt fast for 200 days out of the year!!! The master cleanse detox has less than 800 cals in it for the day and people do that for up to 45days! The way I see it is most of you looked this up wanting to lose weight or find some sort of diet, you saw it was to hard for you, got frustrated and proceeded to bash it and everyone who is for it because YOU personally cant do it. Not cool. Yay for Mr. Lagerfeld and Mark!!!
Yeah, WRITE, instead of RIGHT.
ReplyI took that cold water advice, in hopes of adding some "tone to my bone". Not recommended for men! Lagerfeld is a space alien?
Replyhonestly, to all the people who claim this is insane, nuts, and how it furhter promotes anorexia....
Replyonly the americans say this. the grand majority of europeans and other people around the world already practice such a diet without notice.
it just shows you how obese america is and how the fast food industry which has developed from america's industrailization ahs promoted such thoughts.... as the govt and media are corrupt, and the grand majority of media texts people view are ads for food... with no relation to actual biological facts of food's drastic effects on the human body.
You're very right - also, do the maths, people who are whingeing: he lost 92lbs in around a year, that works out at UNDER the "healthy" 2lb a week gradual weightloss every commercial diet promises, so evidently the reason he succeeded while most people yo-yo the same 20 - 50lbs is due to gritty determination, and being willing to face the fact if you diet, you are going to feel hungry, quite often.
As to whether skinny people like KL are ED-NOD/ED-NOS - you could say much the same for everyone who's overweight, labels are pretty futile when we're talking about people leading functioning lives, and who are not tormented by their weight or dietary choices.
I've just ordered this book, not for the recipes or dietary advice (no way would I ever eat aspartame or splenda, plus I only have 8lbs to shed for vanity's sake) but to get a glimpse into the mind of someone who can achieve something that eludes so many people.
Replyalthough lagerfeld might sound very harsh sometime,s i tend to believe he might be right in some aspects. after all, he stays slim, is working, and is about 70 now. which means he is not that close to starving/dying, is he?
Replyalso i agree that many people eat under 2000 cals without noticing it. i doubt that regular slim people normally count them cals and go berserk when they are under 2000 or even 1200. of course eating something like 500 cals is unhealthy, but come on. on diet disussions i keep seeing "you eat too little!!!" - said usually by someone morbidly obese to someone trying to lose weight...