1200 Calorie Diet Plan – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Eat less and exercise more – Has there ever been an easier solution to losing weight?

Well, not really, unless you allow yourself to complicate matters. I guess the one major complication we face in life is the plethora of diet plans and weight loss programs that cloud our judgement. We are faced with (literally on a daily basis) numerous new and exciting ways to lose weight … and one such way is – The 1200 Calorie Diet.

If the truth be told the 1200 calorie diet isn’t a diet per se, but more of a recommendation that appears to have spiralled out of control. The American College for Sports Medicine first came up with the figure. However, their intention was to provide the minimum number of calories a woman should consume on a daily basis to prevent her body from going into starvation mode. The figure for men was calculated to be 1800 calories per day.

Now for some reason this calorific figure was taken as gospel and a whole new world of diets, diet plans, low-carb diets, etc. was born. In reality, the 1200 calorie diet may be perfect for one person, whereas there is no guarantee that it will work for someone else.

I have actually been fairly shocked at the number of 1200 calorie diet fads that are circulating the internet, and indeed in books and magazines. Unfortunately, many of these diets are not balanced and are extremely unhealthy. So, although a 1200 calorie diet should produce a calorie deficit, thus helping you to lose weight, you should also ensure that it is healthy.

You see, the problem as I see it, is that far too many people are focused on “losing weight”, and therefore they seem to lose their way when it comes to creating a healthy lifestyle. What is the point in losing weight if you’re going to endanger your health? A lack of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals could have a severe effect on any number of your essential organs … and I’m guessing this is not what you are trying to achieve.

So, yes the 1200 calorie diet may be good (for some), but it is also likely to cause some serious damage to others. In fact, the 3 biggest risks of the 1200 calorie diet include:

- Damage to your metabolism

I would hope that you are aware that your metabolism plays a huge part in your weight loss efforts. We need to keep our metabolic rate active and at a high level. This in turn will help the body to burn fat even after exercise or while eating a meal.

However, simply due to the fact that you are consuming so few calories your metabolism is likely to slow right down. Even worse, is that many fad 1200 calorie diets recommend that you only consume foods from one food group, which is not only extremely unhealthy, but will also slow down your metabolism further. Eventually, your body will stop burning fat and simply store it as energy (your body will believe it is doing this for your own good, as it is convinced that you are starving). And this will typically see you pile the pounds back on once you return to eating normally.

- Dehydration

The vast majority of the weight you’ll lose on the 1200 calorie diet will be through water loss. So, in order to avoid dehydration you will also need to consume a fair amount of healthy liquids while dieting. These should include water and herbal teas.

- Not learning healthy eating habits

People who are always on one diet or another invariably never learn how to eat healthy. The 1200 calorie diet, while it may work for some, is likely to teach you a lot of bad eating habits. This is especially true if you take a look around at some of the 1200 calorie diet menus that are available to the public. In truth, you can’t beat a balanced diet and exercise for losing weight.

Please read that final sentence (and the first sentence of this article again).

Another problem that the 1200 calorie diet may cause is, due to the lack of calories, if you are someone who enjoys regular and physically demanding exercise, you may no longer have the energy. In fact, you will need to cut right back on your regime and simply perform light exercises. Is this not defeating the object of losing weight?

As I often mention – losing weight is not about a quick diet or intense exercise program for a short period of time. It’s about changing your entire lifestyle. You can still enjoy life to the fullest and lose weight at the same time. Can the same be said of a diet that will potentially leave you craving certain foods, kill all your energy so you are unable to exercise effectively, and will probably leaving you feeling depressed and downhearted?

I completely understand how frustrating it can be to flit from diet to diet, occasionally losing weight, only to see yourself put the weight back on. In essence, most people diet for a specific period of time, and once they’ve lost a little weight, they go back to their old, bad eating habits and pile the pounds (and usually some more) back on.

If you really want to lose weight I honestly believe it’s time for you to stop chasing that “magic bullet”. Let me tell you now, there is no mythical pill, potion or diet that holds all the answers. In reality, you need a BALANCED DIET and a healthy dose of physical activity.

So, what exactly does this look like?

Well, I honestly believe I have found the answer…

I have recently had the opportunity to review a brand new guide in the marketplace authored by Phil Hartshorn, an Australian freelance personal trainer – The Ultimate Weight Loss Program.

Now this is what I’m talking about!

The Ultimate Weight Loss Program is not another fad diet, you don’t have to starve yourself half to death, and you can even eat the foods you love (that you know aren’t great for you) once in awhile.

Phil has actually come up with an extremely clever concept that controls your calorie intake for a number of days per week, gives you energy to exercise, and finally boosts your metabolism into overdrive. Basically, everything you will ever need to lose weight … and to keep that weight off, forever.

If you’re fed up with fighting a losing battle, and want to discover the perfect way to lose weight (without having to starve yourself) you simply have to check out my Ultimate Weight Loss Program Review.

Featured Diet Plan: The Lunch Box Diet

When I first heard about a diet that reported to help you lose 12lbs in 7-21 days by eating from a plastic food container, I was a little dubious to say the least. But after further investigation and seeing the results that The Lunch Box Diet provides, you'll start to understand why it works.

The diet has been devised with ease of use in mind and without the need to count calories, prepare silly meals or have you wandering around the super market having to pick out ingredients you'd never use in everyday life. In fact, most of the foods you'll be used to, except, well, it's the way you eat them. You see the secret is the box.

Click here to find out more about The Lunch Box Diet.