For most people finding and sticking to the right diet can be quite difficult. This is because people have different ideas of what the right diet plan should be. The 1000 calorie diet can be described as a rather drastic approach to dieting and weight loss. This is because most people need an average of 2000 calories per day. This means that people who choose the 1000 calorie diet plan are living on just half the amount of calories that the body requires.
Actually, the 1000 calorie a day diet can be very effective but it has to be practiced the right way. It is important to describe how this diet plan works so that people who are keen on choosing this option will know exactly what they are getting into. Basically, the simple 1000 calorie diet is recommended for people who want to lose weight very fast. The reason is that this diet plan is effective over a very short period of time. By giving the body just half its recommended calorie count per day, the person on this diet can lose as much as five pounds per week.
Pros And Cons
Unfortunately, this diet plan also comes with a risk factor. When a person begins to live on just half the required calories, the body may go into a sort of starvation mode. This means that the body may believe that the dieter is living in famine conditions. This will make the body try to conserve the small amount of calories it gets and this will actually slow down the weight loss process. Again, any effective diet and weight loss program needs to include a bit of exercise and physical activity. The problem is that living on just 1000 calories and carrying out any stressing form of physical activity can be quite difficult. This is why people on this diet plan need to involve experts in health and nutrition for maximum benefit.
There are definitely a number of advantages for people on the 1000 calorie a day diet. For one thing, it is possible to lose weight fast on this diet. This makes it the perfect diet for people who want to see immediate results. Another point in favor of this diet is that it can be used to kick-start the weight loss program. This means that the person who wants to lose weight can begin the program with the 1000 calorie a day diet and move on to a program that offers the opportunity to take in more calories later. On the negative side, the truth is that living on just 1000 calories per day is a risk for the dieter. Again, this program cannot be sustained for a long period of time because it may harm the dieter’s health.
Sample 1000 Calorie Diet Menu
People who insist on trying the 1000 calorie diet need to be very creative so that they can pack in enough nutrients into the 1000 calories on which they will live on per day. To this end, a typical 1000 calorie diet menu needs to include vital nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral salts. For breakfast, a small banana sandwich and a cup of tea will do. This can be supplemented with an apple or two oranges as mid day snacks. For lunch, a mixed salad and a bit of chicken breast will suffice. For dinner, a fruit salad with about 80 grams of baked potatoes should be enough for the dieter.
All considered, the 1000 calorie diet is not an easy act to follow. But then, the name of the game is self-sacrifice and result. This is the most compelling reason for people to embrace this rather innovative diet plan.