Low-calorie diet, what is it

For many years now, the stress of everyday life has been disrupting our relationship with food. More and more people are eating fast food, skipping breakfast, and making a big meal at dinner. All these eating habits lead to problems of overweight, high cholesterol, diabetes, … Diets have begun to appear to help people who want to take control of their diet and feel better about their bodies. All types of diets have appeared and all types of aberrations as well. In particular, too many restrictions leading to abandonment, major deficiencies, a multiplication of trials of various diets, and the famous yo-yo effect.

The low-calorie diet

This is not a diet as such but a type of diet. Weight Watchers, Natman, intermittent fasting, many diets fall into this category. It is characterized by a calorie intake that is slightly lower than the normal daily requirement. A woman whose needs would be 1800 kilocalories per day, could lower her intake to 1400 kilocalories.

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The low-calorie diet, therefore, implies starting with good food hygiene. Then, in a second step to very gradually decreasing food intake. This decrease in intake must be monitored so as not to lead to a state of malnutrition. This is especially the case when the desired weight loss is significant.

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Who is it for?

The low-calorie diet can be applied by anyone who wants to lose weight. However, when the loss is significant, it may be worthwhile to seek the advice of a nutritionist or doctor.

For a calorie restriction to be on a long-term, the diet must be diversified, balanced and sufficient. Indeed if the diet is too strict, the person will abandon it more quickly. Moreover, after calorie deprivation, resuming a normal diet will often lead to weight gain that is often greater than the loss. It is therefore important not to feel deprived and to allow oneself pleasure at times. A low-calorie diet is effective if it combines pleasure and needs. If you don’t want to gain weight later on, all you have to do is watch what you eat.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The benefits of a low-calorie diet are therefore progressive weight loss. It also offers the possibility for the person and the body to adapt gradually so that they do not feel the lack. There is also the diversity of the diet and above all the prohibition of guilt. The calorie intake is calculated for over a week. Thus, if there is an excess one day (birthday, Christmas, or simply a special craving), the next day can rebalance the balance.

In our countries of plenty, food hygiene can be difficult to establish and maintain with all the temptations around. The drawbacks of this diet are, in today’s society, to avoid fast food and other ready-made dishes whose recipes encourage people to eat more. Frying (French fries, fritters, croquettes are just examples), sweet and carbonated drinks, alcohol, and dishes with sauces are very common. However, they are part of what can be called bad eating habits. They should not be banned, but often they alone make up for a day’s intake or even more. Therefore, they prevent us from having a balanced diet with low caloric intake.

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