You’ve likely heard that low-calorie diets are a way to lose weight quickly, and one of the most popular forms of that is the 1,200-calorie meal plan. When following this meal plan, you eat no more than 1,200 calories a day, including snacks.
How many calories should you be eating a day? The average woman needs between 1,600 and 2,400 calories a day to maintain their weight, and the average man needs between 2,000 and 3,000, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. So it goes without saying that the 1,200-calorie meal plan is restrictive for many people, and that’s why it can result in fast weight loss.
To follow a low-calorie diet as safely as possible, you need to be vigilant about making sure you’re consuming an adequate amount of nutrients to maintain your overall health. As a result, there’s very little wiggle room to eat foods that aren’t nutrient dense. Nutrient deficiency and a slower metabolism are two major drawbacks of following a 1,200-calorie meal plan.
If you’re considering a 1,200 calorie meal plan, here’s what else you need to know.
What is a 1,200-calorie meal plan?
A 1,200-calorie plan is a form of low-calorie diet that’s pretty self-explanatory. You try to eat no more than 1,200 calories in one day — which, for the average adult, is the lowest calorie level at which it may still be possible to meet most of your nutrient needs through food.
When carefully planned, a 1,200-calorie menu includes sufficient protein to minimize any muscle you might naturally lose on a fast weight-loss plan, and it will hit most of your vitamin and mineral targets. However, because of the low calorie levels, it’s pretty inflexible, and it doesn’t have any room for fun foods that are devoid of nutrition.
Benefits of a 1,200-calorie meal plan
For people who have a lot of metabolic complications, such as pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, a diet plan like this may help with weight loss and managing blood-sugar levels. In one year-long trial among more than…
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