A 1200 calorie diet is nutritionally adequate for most grown adults. Also, it’s the recommended amount of calories for safe and healthy weight loss. Starving your body with too few calories causes your body to slow down the use of its calories, which is why there is no noticeable weight loss on the scale when you starve yourself. The 1200 calorie diet has proven itself to be nutritious while at the same time allowing your body to lose weight naturally. Standard diet programs recommended by physicians, dietitians, and nutritionists use 1200 calorie diet plans as a foundation for meal plans.
There are criteria that alter the number of calories a person needs to consume each day for weight loss. Examples include age, gender, basal metabolic rate, body size, exercise regime and any medical needs. A formula is often used when calculating a person’s individual calorie requirement.
The 1200 calorie diet plan may seem like more than enough calories to suffice the average adult, with the amount of processed foods with saturated fats and refined sugars make the calories add up very quickly. For this reason, the balance of micronutrients is crucial to sustain the feeling of ‘fullness’ without consuming more calories. These macronutrients consist of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Usually, you’ll want to have at least half of your calories (or over fifty percent) come into your system from complex carbohydrates, fifteen percent from protein, and thirty percent of calories from fats (with no more than ten percent of that thirty from saturated forms).
There are many advantages to the 1200 calorie diet. For example, when you are consuming nutritious food you’re less likely to overeat because of the effect of ‘fullness’ these foods give you. Also, because you can choose from a vast variety of foods in the 1200 calorie diet, you’re allowing yourself variety in your diet all the while supplying much needed energy and a sense of ‘well-being’ to every cell of your body. It is also recommended with this diet to drink forty eight ounces of water daily with your meals and snacks. Because being well hydrated not only provides energy but it also helps your body reduces the amount of fluid in your shrinking fat cells – which is weight loss! It’s a win-win scenario.
Because the 1200 calorie diet is highly regarded by the medical community, dietitians, and nutritionists, its’ considered the safest way to lose weight. By limiting your amount of calories, you allow your body to burn the fat reserves in your body, allowing yourself to lose weight naturally. Combined with a strict regimen of diet and exercise, the 1200 calorie diet is a sure fire way to create long lasting weight loss results that will be maintainable and noticeable throughout your life. As with any diet, be sure to consult your physician to get the proper training and plan for safe and permanent weight loss.

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For those of you wishing to try a 7 day 1200 calorie diet, Nancy Hughes has a fabulous book for this plan, The 1200-Calorie-a-Day Menu Cookbook : Quick and Easy Recipes for Delicious Low-fat Breakfast, Lunches, Dinners, and Deserts, this is a book that I fully recommend. The following sites have some good free meal plans that you can easily follow, http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/fitness/lose-weight-meals-oct04  or try http://www.choosemyplate.gov/downloads/PatternA1200cals.pdf  or for even more suggestions just Google “food suggestions for 1200 calorie diet” and you will find there is quite a list. Keep striving for better health, and good luck with your weight loss.