This article will lay out a few things to consider before trying the 1000 calorie diet.
First of all what is it?
The 1000 calorie diet is exactly what it claims - you cut your calories to 1000 per day until you lose the weight you want.
This could be in several small meals a day or 1 big one. It could be 1000 calories of toast, cookies, steak, pizza - whatever. It could be 1000 calories of 'healthy' food or 1000 calories of 'junk' food. But it is 1000 calories.
That's the diet in a nutshell.
Does it work?
That depends on what you define as success. It can work in the short term - but it sets up a few problems that you should address.
1) First of all, be aware that 1000 calories is very extreme - it will put your body into a type of starvation mode. If your only goal is to cut calories by cutting back on food, then you may end up slowing your metabolism and eventually putting on more pounds when you go back to eating normally.
2) If you're cutting a lot of calories, you'll need to build in exercise to help your metabolism stay high.
This doesn't mean the diet doesn't work. There are ways to get around it. For example, the 1000 Calorie Challenge Diet espouses a diet and exercise synergy to burn 1000s of calories while keeping your metabolism high.
You could also try a more proven diet with a bit more calories (1200 - 1400) like Diet To Go or Medifast. These diets you eat several small meals a day that are higher in protein (a double whammy that can keep your metabolism 'fooled' into staying in high gear).
Another thing about the 1000 calorie diet. If you are choosing to do 1000 calories of junk food, you could be setting yourself up for nutritional deficiencies.
The 1000 calories is very low - add to that the fact that the food you are getting is not giving you adequate nutrition. And this sets up other problems like possible iron deficiency, B-vitamin deficiency or other problems. And that can cause illness - which will seriously derail your weight loss efforts.
So before you consider the 1000 calorie diet, think carefully about the long-term consequences of the diet. There are many great diets out there that have been proven effective to take off weight fast. You don't have to take chances to lose weight. Take your time and choose the diet that fits your lifestyle.
For more strategies on how to achieve the greatest, most effective negative calorie balance for the fastest possible fat loss, see the 1000 Calorie Challenge
So you really, really, REALLY want to lose weight. Whatever it takes you'll do it - you don't care. You've heard that cutting calories is the way to go - so why not go all out and try the 1000 calorie diet.
After all, it makes sense that to cut down your calories to that level will ensure you lose weight right?
Well, not so fast.
