Possible to live 3 months on 500 cal a day?

You're wrong about the possibility. You may be right as to whether they're adhering to the caloric limit.

Your logic?

Depends on how much fat you have and your activity and metabolism rates. The hCG diet is 500 cals per day...

I think it would be possible to live on 500 calories a day, but not while working out everyday like wrestlers do. Also, you probably are MUCH MUCH weaker mentally than they are. Wrestling workouts are beyond insane, from what I hear.

Wrestlers run about 1.5-3mi/day, do about 300-400 reps of calisthenics, maybe 5 minutes of isometric work (planks, wall sits, etc), then skill oriented work. I figure this adds about 800-1200 calories to their daily requirements. To the other poster:

I did mma classes before he started wrestling. Certainly hard, but not that big of a deal. Wrestling practice is harder than track practice if you go home and lay around for the rest of the night like my brother. Difference is, alot of runners like me will go home and do most of the same shit wrestlers are doing as a supplement.

Let's say you burn 2200 calories/day because it makes the numbers nice.

You eat 500 calories per day.

The balance is 1700 calories/day.

That's half a pound of fat.

3 months is ~90 days.

90 days x 0.5 pounds/day = 45 pounds.

So you would lose roughly 45 pounds of fat in 3 months. But actually, your body would also burn protein on such a restricted diet. And burning protein is less efficient than burning fat, so you'd probably lose more than 45 pounds.

Hmm.... wrote:

Wrestlers run about 1.5-3mi/day, do about 300-400 reps of calisthenics, maybe 5 minutes of isometric work (planks, wall sits, etc), then skill oriented work. I figure this adds about 800-1200 calories to their daily requirements. To the other poster:

I did mma classes before he started wrestling. Certainly hard, but not that big of a deal. Wrestling practice is harder than track practice if you go home and lay around for the rest of the night like my brother. Difference is, alot of runners like me will go home and do most of the same shit wrestlers are doing as a supplement.

I am a wrestler and runner. I have had significantly different experiences than what you describe.

Yeah we only ran 2-4 miles per day, but throughout the running was more like 1000+ reps at HIGH INTENSITY effort. Then throw in the isometric work throughout. This whole sequence is nonstop for 30-60 minutes. Afterwards, the skill oriented work happens, which can be up to two additional hours of not only pushing yourself but also pushing yourself against someone pushing on you. Add to all of this, that you are usually bundled up in layers of sweats and pants and that the room is heated to 90-100degrees and purposely not ventilated. It is definitely a big deal and definitely more than 800-1200 calories.