Calorie Controlled Diet/ Low Calorie Diet

The idea behind following a low calorie diet is to burn more calories than you consume, a moderately active adult burns about 2,200 calories a day. To lose weight you need to eat less than this, between 1200 -1500 calories a day  Don’t be tempted to starve yourself. Going below 1200 calories a day will only lead to a slower metabolism rate, which makes it much harder to lose weight. You should lose between 1-2Ibs a week on a calorie controlled diet. Eat sensible portions of healthy low-calorie foods. Choose foods that will fill you up without filling you with excess salt, sugar or fat. Beware; lots of low calorie, low fat foods you can buy, are full of sugar. Make sure you weigh everything you plan to eat and work out the calories religiously.

There are lots of online calorie counters.

Examples include:

• My Meal Mate 
• MyFitnessPal
• Calorie counting
• FatSecret

Drink plenty of water, you can have 3 diet drinks a day, coke etc. Fruit/herbal tea is also a good choice; allow yourself ½ pint skimmed milk, 100 calories, to use in tea, coffee or your porridge.

In theory you can eat any food you like on a low calorie diet but you will quickly use up your daily allowance unless you choose wisely!:(

Here is healthy low-calorie diet menu suggestion: Approx 1400 calories.

Breakfast	Calories (approx)
1/2 cup oatmeal porridge whole oats, not instant oats, make with water or daily milk allowance.	150
2 slices wholemeal toast spread very thinly with jam	170
or
Boiled /poached egg	120
2 thin slices of wholemeal bread spread thinly with butter	170
Mid Morning Snack
Non-fat yogurt	90
or
fresh fruit or vegetable	100
Lunch
4 oz grilled chicken breast	120
Mixed salad with low- cal dressing	100
or
2 thin slices of whole-grain bread spread thinly with butter	170
2 slices low fat ham	100
Leaf of lettuce and 2 slices of tomato	15
Afternoon Snack
½ cup low-fat cottage cheese	100
or
fresh fruit or vegetable	100
or
Non-fat yogurt	90
Dinner
6-8 oz grilled steak	450
1 cup steamed vegetables or small salad with low-cal dressing	100
or
6oz salmon steak	350
1 baked potato with smear of butter	150
1 cup steamed vegetables or small salad with low-cal dressing	100
Dessert (if you have enough calories left!)
Fruit	100
or
Non-fat yogurt	90
Daily Milk allowance ½ pint skimmed	100