1,200 Calorie Diets
I have noticed that most diet plans, such as those that you seen in the media as well as the recommended calorie levels in apps sets a calorie goal for women at about 1,200 calories. With some diets (such as those that you would classify as crash diets) set the goals at closer to 800 calories. I think that this is a dangerous trend for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it doesn't take into account the differences between people. The diet apps tend to do a bit better on this front as you input your details at the start of the process but this isn't something which is considered for a lot of other diets (this includes the NHS which suggests all women need 1,400kcal to lose weight). Having a low calorie goal is fine if you are small and sedentary but this in not the case for everyone. I am tall for a women and I am generally active (before even factoring in exercise) so if I was to try to stick to such a low limit I would feel really bad and miserable which would probably make me quit.
Secondly, a lot of these plans don't make allowances to add in extra calories when you are exercising. As a lot of people do exercise in one way or another when they are trying to lose weight this is a big oversight. Trying to stick to low calorie goals when you are exercising will make you feel really bad which increases your likelihood of giving up. Eating a few of those exercise calories back is not going to take away from the work that you have put in but you will feel much better for doing it.
Thirdly, I think it is very difficult to get all of the nutrients that you need while sticking to a really restrictive diet. It may be possible if you eat only fruit and vegetables and eat a very wide range of these but most people who are on these types of diet do not do this. This means that your body would likely be missing some of the things that it is needing which will again make you feel really bad and make you give up on the diet.
Lastly, it is really not needed. Cutting your calories to such a low level may give you good short terms results but as you are much less likely to stick to it you are much more likely to fall off the wagon and end up gaining back any weight that you do manage to lose. It is much better in the long run to take weight loss at a much slower rate in a bit of a higher calorie goal. Not only are you more likely to stick with the diet but you are also more likely to build healthier eating habits that will stick with you even after you have reached your goal weight.
Firstly, it doesn't take into account the differences between people. The diet apps tend to do a bit better on this front as you input your details at the start of the process but this isn't something which is considered for a lot of other diets (this includes the NHS which suggests all women need 1,400kcal to lose weight). Having a low calorie goal is fine if you are small and sedentary but this in not the case for everyone. I am tall for a women and I am generally active (before even factoring in exercise) so if I was to try to stick to such a low limit I would feel really bad and miserable which would probably make me quit.
Secondly, a lot of these plans don't make allowances to add in extra calories when you are exercising. As a lot of people do exercise in one way or another when they are trying to lose weight this is a big oversight. Trying to stick to low calorie goals when you are exercising will make you feel really bad which increases your likelihood of giving up. Eating a few of those exercise calories back is not going to take away from the work that you have put in but you will feel much better for doing it.
Thirdly, I think it is very difficult to get all of the nutrients that you need while sticking to a really restrictive diet. It may be possible if you eat only fruit and vegetables and eat a very wide range of these but most people who are on these types of diet do not do this. This means that your body would likely be missing some of the things that it is needing which will again make you feel really bad and make you give up on the diet.
Lastly, it is really not needed. Cutting your calories to such a low level may give you good short terms results but as you are much less likely to stick to it you are much more likely to fall off the wagon and end up gaining back any weight that you do manage to lose. It is much better in the long run to take weight loss at a much slower rate in a bit of a higher calorie goal. Not only are you more likely to stick with the diet but you are also more likely to build healthier eating habits that will stick with you even after you have reached your goal weight.
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