A man decided to experiment with the ‘One Meal a Day’ (OMAD) diet, documenting his experience in a video that might leave you astonished.
The OMAD diet is a type of intermittent fasting strategy that encourages the body to burn fat by consuming all daily calories in one meal within a one-hour timeframe.
After this brief eating period, the individual then fasts for the next 24 hours. While fasting, they can usually consume water and zero-calorie drinks like black coffee or tea to maintain hydration.
Will Tennyson, a content creator, embarked on a week-long trial of the OMAD diet, capturing his journey on his YouTube channel.
He mentioned that although he didn’t have any particular fitness objectives, he was curious to observe if his weight would fluctuate and to determine how many calories he could handle in one meal.
He began his experiment with an enormous Chipotle bowl before hitting the gym, noting that, initially, the OMAD diet didn’t disrupt his workout routine since he usually trains on an empty stomach.
However, he pointed out that the extended gap between eating and exercising left him feeling ‘completely gassed’ during his 11:00 a.m. workout and subsequent ‘Orange Theory’ session at 5:45 p.m., ultimately leading him to abandon the class.
Tennyson typically broke his fast around 3 p.m., and from that point onward, food was the only thing on his mind. He would eat at 6 p.m., often feeling the urge to binge.
By the fourth day, Tennyson noticed that managing his hunger wasn’t ‘getting easier,’ and he found himself thinking about food constantly, leading him to increase his caffeine intake by taking walks and having coffee whenever hunger struck.
He also found it challenging to join his friends for meals, realizing the social aspect of eating.
By the fifth day, things began to improve as he learned to distinguish between ‘actual hunger and habitual hunger.’ He realized that what he thought was hunger was often just thirst, prompting him to drink water or black coffee instead.
Ultimately, he lost 3.8 pounds, but described the overall experience as ‘extremely difficult.’
Tennyson remarked: “Overall, it was not that great. It was just too extreme, and I just didn’t find it to be too sustainable for myself. Probably not for a lot of people.”
WebMD explains that when carbohydrates are consumed, they convert into sugar, entering the bloodstream and triggering insulin release, which stores the excess sugar in fat cells.
During fasting, insulin levels decrease, prompting the body to burn stored fat for energy, a shift that occurs after prolonged fasting.
Research indicates OMAD can be beneficial for weight loss, with a 2018 review suggesting intermittent fasting, including OMAD, is effective for shedding pounds.
Some studies propose it can also improve metabolism, though further research is needed to fully understand its effects.
Advantages of eating one meal a day include increased alertness and potential weight loss from morning eating and overnight fasting.
However, challenges exist: the diet demands discipline and might not be sustainable long-term. WebMD suggests there’s no definitive evidence that OMAD is superior for weight management compared to simple calorie reduction, and it may increase hunger.
A 2022 study from the National Library of Medicine linked OMAD to a higher risk of mortality from any cause, including cardiovascular disease.
Concerns include elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as potential spikes in blood sugar levels.
If considering the OMAD diet, consulting a doctor first is advisable due to possible side effects like nausea, dizziness, irritability, low energy, and constipation, according to Healthline.