For those who want to really lose weight and get to a thinner sleeker look, and still not be emaciated and mal-nourished, a 1200 calorie diet could be the real solution for you. Twelve hundred calories is a sustainable amount of calories for short term diet goals, and for the most part, could help anyone break bad eating habits for good ones that can be maintained. It takes some time, diligence and willpower, but it will get you there. The 1200 calorie diet is one that can be managed, and can even incorporate some fast food selections occasionally.
HOW IT WORKS
The 1200 calorie diet takes some of its origin from the Mayo Clinic Diet, and has evolved on several different levels to become a standard weight loss regimen for those who are needing to lose weight as a pre-surgery measure, or to lower blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels. The 1200 hundred calorie diet works because it incorporates all the food groups, as well as an equitable mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, which is the basis of sound nutrition for most everyone. Though it is a low calorie diet that should implemented for short term use, its basic premise of eating from all the food groups, and in proportions that can be used in lifelong weight management.
The 1200 hundred calorie diet needs about forty percent of its menu selections from proteins. This includes lean meats, poultry. eggs, and fish. Proteins are filling, low calorie as a whole when prepared properly, and sustain basic metabolic and cellular function in the body. Proteins keep the body from starving. The food selections from this group should be prepared in as little oil as possible, and as fresh as possible.
Carbohydrates should provide roughly thirty percent of the calories in a 1200 calorie diet. These can include whole grain breads, pastas, as well as beans, and rice. Carbohydrates provide fuel for the body and helps maintain function as well of major organs. When eaten in excess, carbohydrates can break down into simple sugars and then eventually be stored as fat. Therein lies the problem. There has to be a balance. Whole grains are indeed the way to go.
CONCLUSION
Fats are reputedly bad in a diet, but even with a 1200 calorie diet, fats from olive oil and butter on occasion can be beneficial for heart and nerve function. There is nothing wrong with occasionally using them to prepare dressings, and some entrees. It is best to use them in moderation.
The 1200 calorie works because it is the basic level of creating good eating habits, and on the way to lifelong weight management.
