The Karl Lagerfeld Diet

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!

According 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.

I 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.

The Bible recommends intermittant fasting.

Actually, 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.

And, 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.

"...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.

Ryan said:
Vince Gironda recommended intermittent fasting [...]

Well I think this diet explains why Lagerfeld looks like a zombie. I'm sure he and Rachel Zoe live on human brains alone.

Actually 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.

wow. what a way to teach people the true inner monologue of an anorexic person...

Good Lord! I think I'll just stick to lifting weights, cardio and 2000 calories a day, thanks.

That was the best laugh I've had in a few days...lol

Erica, I know many skinny people who eat far more than 2000 calories a day -- and don't exercise.

I 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.

Wow, 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.

Olives wrote:

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.

I 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?? :-)

Sorry i meant ' am really suprised that any MAN would remain standing'

susan said:
Erica, I know many skinny people who eat far more than 2000 calories a day -- and don't exercise.[...]

But 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.

Karl'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!

Sunny said:
Karl'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![...]

Sunny, 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.

Carla said:
has anyone actually seen how perky Mr Lagerfield's breasts are??[...]

Seriously tho' -- there is some strange advice out there.

Erica said:
Actually 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. [...]

You 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.

I don't trust Karl Lagerfeld.

organ said:
I don't trust Karl Lagerfeld.[...]

Me 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.

If 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!

1000-1500 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.

Yeah, WRITE, instead of RIGHT.

I took that cold water advice, in hopes of adding some "tone to my bone". Not recommended for men! Lagerfeld is a space alien?