Do you have to starve?

B

balletgrrl

Cathlete
OK, this might sound like a wierd question, but....

It seems like many of us wonder and post questions about what Cathe and crew eat to look so lean and muscular in their videos. If you read the articles in "Behind the Scenes" for the Intensity Series, almost everyone says they "cleaned" up their diet by cutting out sugar, lowering their carbs, upping protein, and eating small meals frequently throughout the day.

Is it possible to look like they do simply by cleaning up your diet? Or is their a portion size issue that no one is mentioning? Most of them (Jai, in particular) have almost no body fat. You can see 6 packs on pretty much everybody. It seems to me, that you would have to seriously deprive your body of calories in order to get that lean.

What does everyone think about this? Is there anyone out there who has a 6 pack who can tell us that you don't have to starve yourself and stop menstruating in order to look that fit? I am hoping to generate some discussion on this issue...
 
Hi there

I think they look very healthy, strong, lean and with adequate bodyfat. They absolutely don't look like they starve themselves to me. On the other hand to maintain physiques like that they probably have to be discipline, and eat the amount of calories that their bodies require for all that activities but not more than that. If they starved there is no way on earth they could carry out all that excercises without fainting.
Six packs? I think you can definitely have them without starvation. To lower your body fat for the six packs to be visible is a tough journey, but not at all unhealthy. I bet the girls body fat is in the 12-17 % range, which is low, but still healthy.
 
I read an article out of either "Energy" or "Oxygen" stating that most people who attain very low body fat do eat right, and do eat frequently and often they do go to bed hungry...and I believe it.
 
I agree with that b/c it seems like I can eat whatever (to a certain extent) in the day time but if I go to bed I hungry I will see results.
Wasn't there also another post saying that Rhonda eats around 2500 cals a day?
I have wondered this to (not that I can handle being hungry) but even when I try and eat 6-7 small meals a day,I am usually hungry from mid afternoon until night time.
Lori:)
 
Somewhere I read that if you go under 17 percent bodyfat, you don't get your period anymore. Can't remember where I read it.

Jen
 
I think there are two parts to this subject.

The first part, IMHO, is definitely potion size. I think most Americans need some portion re-education. We simply eat too much. That being said, I also think that those of us who have struggled and suffered and struggled some more with all the various weight/body image/eating issues growing up have developed some unhealthly habits. Humans unfortunately don't just eat to survive, like other animals. We have all kinds of emotionally charged reasons for eating - positive and negative. I think all these things combined make for some very lop-sided perceptions about food regarding what and how much we are putting into are bodies. Sometimes, it seems like I spend all my energy trying to undo all damage the weird relationships I have with food has caused me.

When I did WW about two summers ago, I was really shocked with how little "real" (not carrots sticks and that ilk) food I was allowed based on the number of points I was eating. I would sit at the dinner table and add it all up from the day and think, "Crikes, is that it?" NO! I don't want more carrots - I want PIE, and not even a lot of PIE, just a bit. I want a real sandwich made with real bread, not lowfat this and that, that doesn't cost 10 points. I just want to eat and not have any baggage attached to it!!!

Now the next part of this issue is very emotionally charged. It has to do with body image and aesthetic.

Let me preface this with I think all the ladies in Cathe's workout are amazing. They are strong and beautiful. But in my opinion, Cede has the most typically female shape - curvy and hour-glassed. However, as much as I admire the other ladies, their body shape is nothing I could ever achieve, and conveniently, nothing I would ever want. Some people may look at the ladies and think, "Sheesh, she needs a good feed." Others may think, "Wow, how did she get that body?" That's where the body image comes in. What is beautiful and desirable to you may not be for another.

In fact, I kinda liked some of the older Cathe videos when she had more "average" looking women in the background.

Just my 2 cents!

Susan L.G.
 
In my opinion, you don't starve, you just don't eat extra junk. Lots of small meals with real food, with very few treats indeed. I know that some of us who are lean eat candy and stuff (Aquajock comes to mind), but I cannot get away with that and don't want to trigger any carb cravings for myself.

I have a six-pack and don't starve, but I feel "empty" a lot, and don't eat the moment I feel hungry. I stay busy, eat very clean, exercise 6 days a week. I do have maybe 5-8 lbs of extra fat on my thighs that I'm working on, so I'm not in Cathe/Rhonda shape, but compared to most women, and especially most women my age, I am within striking distance. Most of the time I am not hungry, but I am rarely full either.
 
I definetely know they do not starve themselves. They eat very healthy to look so wonderful. I also believe some genetics play a role in thier appearance. 2 people could eat and exercise the exact same way and one would have more body fat than the other or be more defined.

Have a great day!

Beverly
 
I also believe you can look like Cathe and crew without starving. I truly believe if I cleaned up my diet, cut out junk food, I could like look them. I have always been a pretty big eater and had very low body fat until I reached my late 30s. Now that I'm 41 it is even harder for me to clean up my diet. I wished I had learned to eat a healthy diet when I was younger and I'm sure I would like Cathe and crew. When I was in my late 20s I was an aerobics instructor and ate anything I wanted and as much as I wanted. I had only 15% body fat. I just literally burned off the calories. Since I was teaching I was also always practicing. I had energy that was out of this world. I now have a very sedentary job, so I'm not as active. I do eat less than I did, but I haven't "cleaned up my diet" and I'm still at around 24% body fat which is normal for women. I probably still eat more than a lot of women my age. I'm lucky that I'm built more like my dad than my mom. My poor sister is built more like my mom and can seem to gain just by looking at food. I have thought of cleaning up my diet and I'm slowing working on it, but I'm a long way from being there. I have, actually, added more cardio to my routine with doing 30 minutes of cardio per day followed by one body part per day, CTX and Timesaver, and I'm already seeing results. I guess I need the extra cardio.

P.S. At 15% body fat I did still have my menstrual cycle on a monthly basis.
 
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that they rehearse so much their definitely expelling more calories than they're taking in over the course of 3 weeks before they film. That's not to say that they haven't been eating "clean" prior to the rehearsals but they usually drop an extra 5#s right before filming. I'm sure they also have to rely on protein shakes as just a convenience due to time factors; not being able to eat food during all of the rehearsals. Once filming ends, they go back to eating normally again. They probably consume little meals consisting of a protein (chicken, turkey or fish) with a carb (veggies) & a starchy carb (brown rice) at least 4x a day. I think they load up their little coolers w/all clean eats for the day. They also probably consume cottage cheese, egg whites, etc. Just my thoughts, Kathy
 
I have been lean enough to NOT ovulate/menstruate. And that was on WW in 1998. I did not starve myself. I ate according to the plan. I did go to bed a little hungry some nights. The counselers encouraged me to loose more weight even after not menstruating! That was my clue that they really are not very well educated!

Now, I am at a comfortable weight where I do have normal female cycles. As Mobambo said, I don't have a Cathe/Rhonda body, but not quite a Cede body either. I fall Somewhere in between. Maybe more like Brenda! LOL DH says I definately have her legs:) PS>My workouts are 5-6 days per week depending on the rotation.

Anyhoot... I think eating habits are a key factor:
Moderation and healthy choices will reap great results without deprivation.
 
I think if you can take out the emotional charge out of food, it becomes easier see it more as fuel for the body and less as a reward. I grew up all around body issue/image problems (gymnastics for 10 years) and learned (the hard way)how eating properly helped me as an athlete. I try to apply that philosphy now. Even though I don't compete anymore, I still consider myself an "athlete" and try to eat for energy. When I restricted myself, I had no energy and looked sickly. It takes a lot of work to be comfortable with your body. Once I learned to trust mine to tell me what I needed, I got over the scale thing and comparing myself to others. I figure I'm in this for the long haul, so I'm making fitness and health my goal instead of a certain weight. And pardon the pun, but it feels like a great "weight" has been lifted off my shoulders! :)
 
When my husband would prepare for a bodybuilding show, the foods he eat to become extremely lean just blew my mind! For a quick example, breakfast was eggs, bacon and pepperoni, lunch/dinner, salmon or steak, cheese, peanuts, cream cheese w/ salsa ~ for 5 days. The portions were small, so he did comment that he does get hungry sometimes. For two days he eat anything he wanted, such as candybars, popcorn, pizza, bagels, beer etc. Once his body was in ketosis, he became ripped. There was no fat, none, on him. It took about 8-10 weeks to reach that point. That was just for a show. You (anybody) cannot eat that was all the time. Its unhealthy and raises your cholesterol. After doing this type of dieting you can maintain a very similar "very fit" look, just not ripped to shreds.
Susan CM
 
I don't think anyone has to starve, but I do think in the united states that we are big over eaters.
All that sugar and flour and other processed foods are terrible for us, we have to decide whether we want that junk or whether we want to be fit. I want to be fit, and if it means changing how I eat, that is what I will do.
I have learned at 44 yrs of age, I don't need all the calories that I was trying to eat, in fact that was causing me to gain instead of lose.
I think we shouldn't go by what others say about ALL the calories they consume, because I found out that doesn't work for me, and eating to much protein and not enough fiber constipated me, so I have been learning along the way, whats good for me and what isn't...
We just have to learn, to be fit, we can't eat like we used too...... Rhonda :7
 
Rhonda, that last statement summed it up as far as I am concerned. I used to eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. And I looked like it, too. I can drop weight easily just by eating within normal ranges "for me". I know my normal range may not be normal for someone else. If I eat junk, I crave more junk. So, that means "to me", I need to stop eating junk in order to stop craving it.

I eat dinner about 5:30-600pm and some nights, I do go to bed a little hunger, but when I awake, (at 4:45-5:00) I'm ready to get my workout on. I take in between 1400-1700 calories a day. The weight and inches are dropping off but, that's 90% - 95% clean eating. No deprivation here.

Finding what works for you may take a while, but once you do, just stick to it and you will see results. If you fall off the wagon, forgive yourself and get back on it.
 
Kelley: I am glad to know about the normal cycle at 15 percent, that is good to know. 17 percent to not get a normal cycle seemed kind of high to me. I want to stay normal!

Other thoughts: I recently went to a nutrition clinic where the homeopath said "avoid white sugar like the plague"!

Did anyone see the Dateline NBC? Or was it MSNBC? A few weeks back where they followed 3 women getting ready for Ms. Olympia. It was the epitome of an unhealthy lifestyle! They said they were in pain near the end because basically the way they had to eat to look so ripped caused "your stomach to eat itself at night". Blech! I am NOT saying that is what the gals on the video do...clearly! I suspect it is very much like KathyH said, too. Anyway, I was so surprised that a bodybuilder, supposed to be the ideal health nut? Had to act in such an unhealthy way. It was so...twisted! Perhaps the men don't have to go to such extremes to get their body fat down. I like the look of the female fitness competitors better anyway.

I agree that taking the emotions/entertainment/looking for love/relaxation issues out of eating helps you to stay fit. I did WW and was surprised how often I reached for food when I was NOT hungry at all.

I am at the bottom of what WW says is healthy for my weight but my body fat percentage is still pretty high!

Jen
 
I think for women, something like lower than 10 or 12 percent is considered to be unhealthy; however, I think my body fat is lower than that and I still have periods. I'm not advocating that low... I'm an ecto and have always struggled to gain weight. The point at which you quit menstruating may be different for each of us.
 
You are right on about the body image part. It's probably unrealistic for 80 or more percent of us to think we could look like Cathe, no matter what we did, just because of genetics. I am still trying to be realistic about my fitness goals, how I hope and want to look and how I should be eating to attain these goals, and balance all that with the reality that is my mom, whom I am looking more like by the day!

The food pyramid doesn't help either. One chart I looked at gave 1,600 calories as the total if you ate the MINIMUM number of the recommended servings of each food every day. Most people who want to lose weight have to drop below that and/or drastically increase their level of activity. Not to mention that the food they recommend you eat the most of is from the "grain group." And there's no distinction between white and whole wheat bread or pasta, brown or white rice, steel-cut oats and instant oatmeal, Raisin Bran and Frosted Flakes, etc.

Thank goodness we're all intelligent -- dare I say women? not to offend any males who might be present on this forum -- okay, women who can educate ourselves.

And one other thing: how come on some Cathe videos, her skin is completely tan and unmarred and on others, she looks normal and has moles, etc.? Anybody else notice this?

Laurie
 
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