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Woman's extreme Red Bull diet

Last updated 10:37 24/05/2009
EXTREME: Auckland woman Brooke Robertson says she shrank from 105kg to 60kg drinking nothing but 10 to 14 cans of Red Bull a day.

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A 23-year-old Auckland mother who lost 45kg in eight months by drinking nothing but energy drink Red Bull says she has ongoing health problems because of the diet.

Brooke Robertson told the Herald on Sunday she shrank from 105kg to 60kg drinking nothing but 10 to 14 cans a day, often accompanying them with nothing more than a handful of dry Honey Puffs.

Ms Robertson said she put on weight while carrying son Keir, now four, but did not make a conscious decision to go on a Red Bull diet.

"I just started drinking it. I wasn't sleeping, I wasn't eating – I was exhausted," she said.

"I just continued to drink it because it's an appetite suppressant and I noticed I was losing weight so stuck with it."

Ms Robertson said she managed to keep her addiction secret from family and friends, and did not recover from it until after a two-week stay in hospital following a minor heart attack.

"I managed to wean myself off it by being in hospital for that long but I had severe withdrawals – sweating, nausea, shaking. It was an addiction. The doctors stated that."

Ms Robertson now maintains her figure through exercise and a Weight Watchers diet, but said she still suffers the effects of the extreme diet.

She said she has a heart murmur, gets severe pain and cramping in her stomach and bowel, and suffers anxiety attacks.

A Red Bull spokesman said there was "scientific evidence that caffeine is not addictive".

The drink was available in 148 countries "because health authorities across the world have concluded that Red Bull is safe to consume", he said.

The drink is banned in Norway, Denmark and Uruguay because of health fears.

- NZPA

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129 comments
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zelda   #129   12:35 pm Jan 13 2012

sounds like this woman was short of a few brain cells before she started this diet, let alone the effects she is suffering now. Just plain stupid!

Helen   #128   09:39 pm Jan 24 2011

Could not think anything worst drinking red bull or any thing similar to lose weight. What is really doing to the body especially the brain. There are much safer ways to lose weight. Plus there are natural energy drinks on the market these days which are much better for your health. I use the Vitamark Crave which only has 9 calories plus also helps to suppress your appetite.

bree   #127   04:19 am Jan 06 2011

Why do we need to ban these products, we know the risks, there ARe 2 many nanny states.

nathan hart   #126   02:46 am Oct 28 2010

i cant belive this peson is so stupid! Im twelve and i know this is dumb! What an idiot

steve   #125   06:22 pm Sep 06 2009

How stupid was this woman? When will the world wake up and realise the dangers of excessive drinking of this poison! Just after Christmas i was in a resus unit of my local hospital (my mother had had a stroke) and the doctors were struggling to save a young guy in the next bay who had drank 10 red bulls a day throughout December to "Keep him going through the party season". His heart was, according to the doctor "beating so fast it was ready to explode". They finally managed to get him stabalised after 5 hours.

Heather   #124   05:15 am Sep 04 2009

If the lady drank nothing but Diet Coke the same thing would have happened. People are so scared of what is in Red Bull, but read the freaking ingredients. Educate yourselves before writing a stupid article such as this... Just for the record... One can of Red Bull contains the same amount of caffeine as a 20 oz. soda.

Jt   #123   08:39 pm Sep 02 2009

Good/bad? Norway has now approved Red Bull...

Vicky   #122   07:47 pm Aug 13 2009

She couldn't have switched up the bull for Coffee, Cola, or Tea? Why so extreme? You can lose weight on Carrots and Cabbage too. Stear clear of the process foods. Moderation, moderation, moderation.

Tianna   #121   06:03 am Jul 30 2009

I can't be too hard on her. I once consumed nothing but one to two bottles of soda a day for a week or so, & I didn't even notice. I just drank it when I was thirsty, & when I was done with the bottle, I wasn't hungry. When I did notice, I was tempted to keep doing it because I had lost seven pounds, but I stopped because of the shakes that I was starting to get. It's easy to get caught up with something like this, especially when it has desirable short-term results.

buffmother   #120   07:10 am Jul 22 2009

crazy!


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