It's easy to say you're going to start running a 1000 calorie meal plan, but consuming that little each day takes an enormous amount of willpower for anyone who likes to eat. Since few people get to a point where they need to lose weight by not caring about food, this probably describes you. However, the difference between "requires a lot of willpower" and "impossible" is a vast one. Yes, following a strict diet of any kind will be difficult for any extended period of time. Having a strong support group behind you can help. If you need further motivation, here are some ways you can find the extra juice to keep going.
Non Scale Victories
It's one of the most common reasons people fall off the wagon. They set themselves up for disappointment by putting all of their eggs in one basket: the bathroom scale. Whether you weight every day, once a week, or once a month, it can be very discouraging to see the numbers staying in one place. This has only been compounded by television shows that celebrate huge amounts of weight loss and frown on those contestants who "only" lose five or six pounds in a week. Weight loss isn't something that has to happen all at once. Look for non scale victories when using a 1000 calorie meal plan. Measure yourself. Take pictures. Congratulate yourself merely for staying on the diet. That, at least, is something you have complete control over.
Make a List
If you've always struggled with your weight, you may have only the faintest clue of how to properly eat. Yes, you probably know that fruit and vegetables are good and cake is bad. But beyond that, can you really even come up with a 1000 calorie meal plan? Sit down and make a list of every food you like to eat. Then, do some research and see what dieticians say about that food and how good it is for you. Can it be incorporated into your diet? Are there substitutes that might work better? Once you have some concrete ideas, you can begin filling your house with foods appropriate for the diet.
Exercising
If you're going on a 1000 calorie meal plan, you're probably not going to have a lot of energy left over for long stretches at the gym. For that reason, you may want to hold off on the vigorous exercise until you can add some calories back into the diet. You don't want to get overwhelmed right when you're trying to get your footing.
Non Scale Victories
It's one of the most common reasons people fall off the wagon. They set themselves up for disappointment by putting all of their eggs in one basket: the bathroom scale. Whether you weight every day, once a week, or once a month, it can be very discouraging to see the numbers staying in one place. This has only been compounded by television shows that celebrate huge amounts of weight loss and frown on those contestants who "only" lose five or six pounds in a week. Weight loss isn't something that has to happen all at once. Look for non scale victories when using a 1000 calorie meal plan. Measure yourself. Take pictures. Congratulate yourself merely for staying on the diet. That, at least, is something you have complete control over.
Make a List
If you've always struggled with your weight, you may have only the faintest clue of how to properly eat. Yes, you probably know that fruit and vegetables are good and cake is bad. But beyond that, can you really even come up with a 1000 calorie meal plan? Sit down and make a list of every food you like to eat. Then, do some research and see what dieticians say about that food and how good it is for you. Can it be incorporated into your diet? Are there substitutes that might work better? Once you have some concrete ideas, you can begin filling your house with foods appropriate for the diet.
Exercising
If you're going on a 1000 calorie meal plan, you're probably not going to have a lot of energy left over for long stretches at the gym. For that reason, you may want to hold off on the vigorous exercise until you can add some calories back into the diet. You don't want to get overwhelmed right when you're trying to get your footing.