1200 Calorie Diet Plan for Women

The 1200 calorie diet is popular among women who are aiming at effective weight loss. While this number may be slightly low, it has been found that those with a low metabolic rate, and those who are overweight require the consumption of fewer calories in order to lose weight. Moreover, the required number of calories per day varies from person to person. The specifications vary depending on the age, the gender, weight, height, and the metabolic rate. This diet plan requires you to first determine your basal metabolic rate. This is the rate at which calories are burned by your body when you are inactive. Under no circumstance should you consume calories lower than this rate. As such, before you take to any specific diet plan, it is essential to consult your doctor or nutritionist to determine whether such a plan will be suitable for your body. 

Menu

As the name suggests, this diet requires you to consume foods that add up to around 1200 calories a day. This means giving up on a lot of the junk you eat to effectively adhere to the diet, without going hungry. 

BreakfastLunchSnackDinner
Sample 1
  • 1/2 bowl Fresh Fruit Salad
  • 2 Cornmeal Pancakes with 1 tbsp Maple Syrup and 2 tsp Almond Butter
  • 1 Whole Wheat Roll
  • 1/3 cup Hummus
  • 1/2 bowl 3 Bean Salad
  • A handful of Cashews
  • 1/2 cup Chinese Noodles prepared with 2 tsp peanut oil, 1/2 cup Yellow Peppers, 1/2 cup Broccoli, 1/2 cup Carrots, 3 oz. Broiled Scallops
Sample 2
  • 1 slice Whole Wheat Toast with 1 tsp Almond Butter
  • 1 cup Nonfat Yogurt (Unflavored)
  • 1/2 cup Cantaloupe
  • 1 slice Whole Wheat Toast with 1 tsp Mustard, Slices of 1 fresh Tomato, 1 oz. Low Fat Mozzarella Cheese
  • 1 cup Minestrone Soup
  • A handful of Peanuts roasted in 1/2 tsp Oil
  • Tossed Green Salad prepared with 1 tsp Olive Oil, 1 tsp Vinegar, 1/2 cup Assorted Greens, ½ cup Sweet Potato, 5 Mushrooms, 3 oz. Broiled Swordfish
  • 1/2 cup Strawberries

This menu can be alternated daily for the purpose of variety. Mainly, it should include a portion of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, lean meats, nuts and seeds, and whole grains. Do not skip any meal at any cost, and keep adding variety to your meals. For instance, you can have a bowl of whole grain cereal with skimmed milk, with a piece of fresh fruit for breakfast for a change. At lunch you can enjoy a baked potato drizzled with olive oil, and a small serving of baked beans, or a cup of brown rice. Have a handful of various nuts as a snack, and for dinner, enjoy a tossed salad with ingredients of your choice, or simply a bowl of soup, a slice of whole wheat toast, and a piece of fruit. Just remember to avoid heavy salad dressings.

The 1200 calorie diet ensures that you get all the nutrients required by your body minus the heavy calories that you consume otherwise. Also, if you are a very active individual, this diet may not be advisable for you. This diet can leave you feeling tired and weak. As such, it is always advisable to consult a doctor or nutritionist before you follow this diet, to ensure that it benefits you in the right manner.