1200 Calorie Diet Works, But Not for Everyone

1200 Calorie Diet Works, But Not for Everyone

A few years ago, I went to visit my doctor for a general check-up and physical. I realized before I went that I had put on a few extra pound... 5:19 AM

A few years ago, I went to visit my doctor for a general check-up and physical. I realized before I went that I had put on a few extra pounds, but was completely caught off guard when I learned that I was 90 pounds heavier than my ideal body weight.

That is when I got the idea to go on a 1200 calorie diet.

My doctor had been on me to lose a few pounds for the last couple of years, but my weight had not become a significant problem yet, and I always promised him that I would try my best to lose.

When he finally came in to see me and looked at my chart, the first thing he said was that it was time for me to get on a balanced diet and start up an exercise regimen. He said that my blood pressure and cholesterol were both elevated, and if I wanted to live to be 60, I needed to start taking off the pounds.

He recommended that I try to limit my calorie intake to about 2,000 a day, and do some sort of aerobic activity, such as walking, swimming or bike riding for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day. He said he did not want me to lose more than one or two pounds a week, because it is not healthy to lose weight too quickly.

I went home that day feeling a little bit down about the prognosis I had just received, and went online to read about some diet plans. I read about a 1200 calorie diet, and how participants were seeing great results from using that plan.

Rather stupidly, and letting my own personal sense of vanity overshadow health concerns, I decided to go against my doctor's advice and try the 1200 calorie diet myself, while increasing the daily exercise routine to between one and one and a half hours.

The first week I lost six pounds, but I was starving most of the time, waking up with rip-roaring headaches and usually in a foul mood.

The second week, I lost 1.6 pounds, which is about what my doctor told me I could expect from following his plan, and I was feeling weak and irritable. I started to question the wisdom of following the 1200 calorie diet.

After further research, I learned that there was nothing wrong with the diet itself. It was the fact that it had been designed for people that were considerably less overweight than I was, and who led a rather sedentary lifestyle, which I did not.

I went back to my doctor's plan, and within a year dropped almost 75 pounds. I feel much healthier now and my blood pressure and cholesterol levels are normal again.

I now know that while the 1200 calorie diet has helped a lot people, it is not the right diet for me or people like me.