the truth about nutrition on 1200 calories

When talking about limited food increasingly emerges diet 1200 kcal a day. How effective is this method of weight loss and can we call such food is harmless for the body?

Read our other helpful articles about nutrition:

  • Proper nutrition: the most complete guide to the transition to PP
  • Why do we need carbohydrates, simple and complex carbohydrates for weight loss
  • Protein for weight loss and muscle: all what you need to know
  • Counting calories: the most comprehensive guide to calorie counting!

About nutrition on 1200 calories a day

1200 kcal is considered a magical number in which, on the one hand, great lose weight, and on the other hand, do not the metabolism. The essence of the diet is very simple: you must eat within this calorie daily, until you lose that weight. To the menu there are no special requirements, but of course, it is better to choose the right foods. Although such restrictions are particularly harmful food and not eat.

The pros of nutrition on 1200 calories:

  1. With such a restricted diet you will lose weight. For a month you may lose 5 to 10 kg depending on weight.
  2. Almost guaranteed that your menu will consist of proper and healthy foods. Otherwise, to keep within such a limited calorie very difficult.
  3. This method of weight loss does not cause serious harm to the body, in contrast to the mono-diet with very low caloric intake (diet on buckwheat porridge, yogurt, grapefruit, etc.).

Cons the power on 1200 calories:

  1. Always eat under 1200 calories is very difficult. And should you after the long-awaited weight loss return to a regular menu (even within the normal 1800-2000 calories), you will quickly gain weight. Your body slowed down the metabolism in order to continue their livelihoods in this poor nutrition. And when you increase the energy intake of the daily diet, it will be stock up as fat on your body.
  2. When powered on 1200 calories a day there is a high risk to break away from the diet. Still, such a diet involves substantial exposure, because the body obviously receives less than the required.
  3. With such a limited diet, you will not receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals contained in the products.
  4. If you eat 1200 calories you will have no physical strength at efficient fitness. And slimming without sports is not the best option, if you look at the long term.
  5. And most importantly, why torture yourself by eating within such a limited calorie, if you can achieve exactly the same result, reducing the energy value of their menu at a reasonable figure. Read more about this in the article about counting calories.

Therefore one can wonder whether the game is worth the candle? After all, as we would not like to quickly lose weight, our ultimate goal is to keep the body healthy and functioning smoothly. And this is only possible with the combination of a balanced menu and regular sports. Nutrition on 1200 calories fit into this concept easily.

Please note! 1200 calories may be perfectly normal number for weight loss if you have low weight, small height and no exercise. Under such initial data, the calorie content will be low, and it will not be harmful to the body (be sure to calculate the link above).

Tips losing weight on the system of 1200 calories

If you still are determined or already eat under 1200 calories a day, then you will benefit from some tips:

  1. The transition from limited to adequate food, needs to be built correctly. It is very important to move smoothly for good nutrition. Even if you have achieved the desired results in weight-loss, in any case it is impossible to abruptly start eating without restrictions. This will lead to a complete return of lost pounds. Gradually increase caloric intake by adding about 100 calories a week.
  2. Try to eat diverse. Some products we like less, some more, but with such a scarce diet is very important with a varied menu. Of course, well, if you’ve found your perfect diet that fits your taste and fits in with a limitation of 1200 kcal. However, the body needs a varied diet, so don’t forget to alternate the types of meat, cereals, vegetables and fruits.
  3. Use vitamins. Diet, whatever they were, always accompanied by a lack of vitamins or minerals. So be sure to buy a complex of vitamins at the pharmacy and take them regularly. This will reduce the risk of adverse effects from dietary intake.

It is obvious that nutrition on 1200 calories a day though is an effective method of losing weight, but rather the extreme. To create beautiful shapes much easier and more efficient to calculate your actual calorie intake, to choose a qualitative exercise and to successfully combine these two areas.

PROPER NUTRITION: how to start step by step

Leave a Reply