Calorie Restriction CBS5

[auggiedoggy]

I'm 5'11" and to me 2000 calories is not that low. I think I could manage 1800-1900 with some moderate exercise thrown in. That would be more in line with the mild CR practiced by the Okinawans.

[kmiroshkhin]

I'm 23. As I'm heavily invested in body building, I need to consume large portions of protein every day, but this is definitely something that I would want to try once I reach an age of 40. However I am fairly confident that this will work better if one starts earlier.

[garzamma]

2000 calories a day for him is actually not THAT low. I try to consume about that much per day (net of any exercise...I add more for exercise) and I am an inch shorter and 20 pounds heavier than he is. The reason that I don't look like him, though, is because about once a week I "fall off the wagon" and eat about 2000 extra calories in a day, ehhh!!!!

[matthewlake182]

Its common for people that don't weigh all their food everyday to think they're consuming fewer calories than they are. Mike lost quite a bit of weight by reducing to 2000k/cal a day. and he fasts on weekends. And remember that CR is not all or nothing. The bigger the restriction the longer the lifespan, but even 10-20% restriction has good benefits.

[mrpentium]

It makes sense to do what you can within reasonable limits to live as long as possible, but in the end it's a losing battle, and there is something to be said for quality of life without being overweight, and still being healthy. This could easily turn into an obsession (6' & 135# is not good; even vegetarians are not this lean). Better to live a good life, and prepare for a good afterlife.

[dkw12002]

Longer life, but not necessarily healthier. This guy seems emaciated...like a concentration camp survivor. Probably needs a couple hundred more calories a day. Mice that were fed restricted diets as babies, lived longer, but their brains didn't develop properly, so obviously, this is not an option for children. I thought there was essentially no difference between longevity for people who were within the medically recommended wt. for their height based on BMI. This guy is way under that.

[matthewlake182]

Well yes, much healthier, see the important studies linked on my blog (check my youtube profile). Scientists have found we have almost zero risk of heart disease, diabetes or stroke. Less risk of cancer, better immunity, never get sick! The anecodtal evidence form people actually doing CR is overwhelmingly positive. As for CR and BMI... CR has nothing to do with weight. One interesting study is the one being done on rhesus monkeys, they seem healthier and are living longer by eating 30%less

[matthewlake182]

Also remember that no one is suggesting children go on this diet. Adult onset CR works in mice, seems to be working in moneys, works in dogs... probably will work to some extent in humans. We don't know how much though. And the guy in the video actually has a normal BMI. He's fine yeah... but normal BMI. Hes just very skinny 'relative' to most people now. Interestingly even our perception of what is normal changes as society wastelines increase. fat becomes normal appearance.

[dkw12002]

At 6' and 135 lbs., his BMI would be about 18.3 which is below the medical recommended range of 19-25. This suggests the guy may NOT be healthy and is underweight. I don't believe there is compelling evidence that you are better off eating CR than you are staying within your recommended medical wt range and BMI range and eating a few more calories. Thin is probably better though.

[matthewlake182]

He is only 1.5 lbs underweight. This is less underweight than most people are over weight! Underweight is a BMI <18.5. I have little doubt mike is healthy, we all generally go for regular check ups Still, again, CR has absolutely nothing to do weight. Maximum lifespan, per animal studies, it's all to do with 'calories in'.

Official catagories;

Underweight = <18.5

Normal weight = 18.5-24.9

Overweight = 25-29.9

Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

[brandonkirk]

So am I to assume that people who exercize a lot, like marathon runners, body builders, swimmers, are actually aging their body more? You have to consume a lot more calories to do these sports so even if you are in good shape, you are wearing your body out.

[cheemooo]

This is true, although hard exercise strengthens the body systems so much that they can cope with much more abuse and resist aging. Its a fine balance. Best thing to do is work out very hard 3 to 4 days a week, eat a all natural raw food diet dont eat between meals and eat no more than 3 meals, this way you still get nourishment from food but dont tak in so much that you become much larger muscularly from all te exercise. Its a balncing act! Other key is you cant afford any junk in the dietatall

[matthewlake182]

Mike... If you're reading this just thought I'd say you look like about mid 20's in some of the shots there.

[Soulnik]

"I don't have high hopes for bona fide calorie restriction

in humans."

- Aubrey de Grey, May, 2008 (Methuselah Foundation

[matthewlake182]

Yes I know Aubrey De Grey's position on Calorie Restriction. That doesn't make him right... Although he is a Genius :)