The 1500 calorie diet is a guideline figure that is used as a figure that is lower than your current calorie intake. This lower calorie consumption means that your body will use the stores of energy on your body which is the fat and help you lose weight. On average if you consume 500 calories less than what you usually eat you will lose 1 pound per week and that also counts for losing 2 pounds by consuming 1000 calories less. However, remember the more calories you try and not consume the harder the diet will be to stick to and also to ensure that you are meeting the required nutrients for your body to function healthily. You have to decide what level your body is at and in the beginning of your diet only reduce your calorie intake by 500 to 1000 calories and you will start to lose some weight.
Constructing the 1500 Calorie Diet
When constructing your new 1500 calorie diet it is essential to have a balanced diet, even though you are cutting down on calorie consumption you cannot completely cut one section of food out. Remember to include foods that you enjoy eating, it will help you stick to the plan because eating should be an experience to enjoy. Even if you enjoy high calorie food you can still enjoy it but remember to plan it into your diet and only eat it in moderation. This will help keep variation in your diet and allow you to stick with the plan. Some people try to just count the calories and neglect to look at the nutritional information, this information is key as you are drastically reducing the amount of nutrients that your body is used to so having all the required nourishment and to stick to 1500 calories will be a challenge. The key is to try and incorporate as
many whole grain carbohydrates which many cerials now contain, low-fat proteins and fresh fruit and vegetables. This will help you to keep the calorie consumption as low as possible whilst still providing all the nourishment your body needs.
Instead of using the 1500 calorie diet as a temporary fix to lose weight you need to try use the techniques and experience you have gained from using the diet and use it as a change of lifestyle. This way when you stop the diet you will not rebound right back to square one and lose what you have put so much effort into.
An example of a day using the 1500 Calorie Diet
- Breakfast is 250-350 calories and this includes a whole grain cereal with preferably a low fat milk.
- Lunch is 350-450 calories which is a tuna and cheese sandwich including salad of lettuce and tomatoes.
- Dinner is 500-600 calories and can be a chosen meat such as pork or some seafood with carbohydrates such as a jacket potato.
- Snack is 150 calories, this can be eaten at any point of the day if you start feeling hungry and are a long time off the next meal, one example of this is Jam on Toast.
The above daily selection of meals is just an example to show you what kind of food can be eaten. The best why to create you diet is to incorporate what you like to eat and then work out what nutrients that particular product provides and add it into your diet at a specific quantity. Just as long as you allow yourself to enjoy what you are eating and use the snacking period wisely you can lose weight and not become hungry throughout that day and help you stick to the 1500 calorie diet plan.