There’s an old adage – if you fail to plan, you plan to fail – and nowhere is it more appropriate than when you’ve embarked on a 500 calorie a day diet.
If you’ve ever used the calorie counting technique, you’ve most likely committed to the recommended 1200 calorie a day diet, which is also known as a low calorie diet plan, where fat losses average around 0.5 kilos or 1 pound per week.
The 500 calorie diet is what experts call a very low calorie diet plan, and for a woman of average size, the estimated weekly weight loss on such a regime is around 1 kilo or 2.2 pounds. Medical professionals have always warned against eating so few calories in a day and most health experts don’t recommend you take on such a diet plan for very long, or tackle it without medical supervision. If you do chose to attempt the 500 calorie a day diet, be sure not to throw the information around freely, unless you want to be met with disapproving comments and other forms of discouragement.
It’s funny how fearful we are when it comes to under eating. I’ve observed so many eating patterns in my time that are acidic, preservative rich and nutrient deficient. A well balanced 500 calorie a day diet can be more nourishing than most eating plans, and can usher in feelings of lightness, clarity and wellbeing.
Apart from the speed at which the 500 calorie a day diet can help you achieve your weight loss goals, there is no reason for you to feel hungry or malnourished when eating this way. If you plan for your 500 calorie diet menu to include several servings of raw, organic vegetables as well as fresh, ripe fruit, you’ll be consuming all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy.
Low GI fruits and most vegetables are very low in calories, so the bulk of your calories will ideally come from low fat wholefoods, including grains and beans. Quinoa, for example, is a mighty filling wholefood, packed with protein and sets you back around 100 calories a serve.
Imagine waking up to a plate of fresh, ripe fruit, enjoying a green juice for mid-morning tea and a millet and vegetable pilaf for lunch. Another green juice gets you through the afternoon and your dinner is a hearty vegetable and bean soup.
What I’m saying is think it through and plan it out. If you set yourself a target of 500 calories a day, you’ll soon discover that wholefoods pack the most nutrients per punch and green juices are a healthy way to keep from snacking. A bit of imagination and you can easily build your 500 calorie a day plan around these nourishing foods. If you need to lose more than a few kilos, and you’re worried about maintaining a very low calorie diet for more than a couple of weeks, just add exercise to your day so you can consume another 1-200 calories and still reach your weight loss goals.
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