The Lowdown on Low Calorie Diets

Low calorie diets have had a reputation of being bland, sparse, and hard to follow for more than just a few days at a time. However, with a bit of creativity and knowhow it actually is possible to lose weight the healthy way and feel sustained while following a diet that's low in calories.

In addition to the bevy of low calories, low fat foods to choose from, many more choices are considered to be negative calorie foods, which are, obviously, a great addition to any low calorie diets. Negative calorie foods have some calories, of course, but the body uses more to eat, prepare, and digest them than their original calorie count. The more negative calorie foods you add to your diet the more fat your body will burn.

Weight gain occurs when we consume more calories than we're able to burn. Taking in less calories than we expend through physical activity is the only surefire way to lose weight and keep it off for the long term.

Low calorie foods are often high in fiber, which is excellent for dieters and anyone who needs to lower their cholesterol. Fiber makes us feel fuller longer, helping us to avoid snacking in between meals. Fiber also keeps the digestive system working properly and causes the body to burn more calories during the digestion process than other types of foods.

While following a diet low in calories, be sure you are getting the right amount of proteins, vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to thrive, particularly if you've incorporated a lot of negative calorie foods into your meals.

Low Calorie Diet Foods

Some vegetables low in calories to include in your diet are:

Asparagus

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Cucumbers

Garlic

Lettuce

Onions

Peppers

Spinach

Zucchini

Some low calorie fruits to enjoy as snacks or for dessert include:

Apples

Blackberries

Grapefruit

Honeydew melons

Lemons

Limes

Oranges

Peaches

Plums

Raspberries

Tomatoes

Watermelon

Besides fruits or raw vegetables, some other snacks perfect for low calorie diets include:

Nuts

Pretzels

Sherbet

Sugar free gelatin

Whole grain cereals

Yogurt

Sample Low Calorie Diet Menu

Breakfast:

- Omelet with egg whites and low fat cheese

- Fresh fruit with oatmeal

- Tea, coffee, water, or orange juice

Lunch:

- Salad with light dressing

- Soup

- Sugar free beverage

Dinner:

- Boneless, skinless chicken breast

- Steamed broccoli

- Salad with light dressing

- Skim milk, sugar free beverage, coffee, tea, or water

Snack:

- Sugar free gelatin

- Handful of nuts

- Hot tea

Any type of diet, low calorie or otherwise, should most definitely be accompanied by plenty of physical activity to facilitate the weight loss process. Whether it's walking, dancing, running, jogging, swimming, bicycling, weight lifting, or any of the other types of physical activities that burn calories and build muscle tone, be sure to move for one hour at least three times per week.

And, even though you may be consuming fewer calories than with other types of diets, never skip a meal thinking that you'll be saving calories as this will have the direct opposite effect on your weight loss efforts.

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