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Millions of people are pulling out all the stops in an attempt to improve their health, slim down, and tone up. Those who are new to the world of weight loss often fall victim to various fad diets that promise amazing results in record time. But what they don’t tell you is the aftermath of such dieting can gravely affect your overall health. Experts state that rapid weight loss is extremely harmful, and can lead to various health issues, such as migraines, constipation and gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, slower metabolism, muscle loss, and others (5).
As you may already know, any weight loss comes down to consuming fewer calories than you burn (3, 8). This is called a caloric deficit, and it is reached with the help of dieting and regular physical activity. However, not any caloric deficit is safe and effective. If you slightly reduce your energy intake, your weight loss will be too insignificant and slow to notice, and if you starve yourself, consuming insufficient calories, you will significantly harm your health and even hinder the process of weight loss by inducing the survival mode in your body (11). That is why you need to choose a diet that would create an adequate caloric deficit, like 1200-calorie paleo meal plans.
Experts recommend losing 1-2 pounds (0.45-1kg) a week (4). Such a weight loss pace is the safest and the most sustainable. Since 1 pound of fat equals 3500 calories, to successfully slim down you will need to reduce your daily caloric intake by 500-1000 calories (10). And since an average adult man requires 2,500 calories a day to maintain weight, and for an average adult woman this number is 2,000 calories (9), paleo 1200 to 1500 calorie meal plans are exactly what you need to shed 1-2 pounds a week.
Read More: Calorie Deficit But Not Losing Weight: What’s The Culprit Behind It?
Another factor that makes 1200-calorie paleo meal plans safe and effective for weight loss is the Paleo diet itself. As you may already know, a Paleo diet, known as Paleolithic diet, is a nutritional plan which requires you to consume foods that were available during the Paleolithic era. So, you are to eat everything that could have been gathered, caught, or hunted by your ancestors, for example, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish, and lean meats (1). This diet is overall healthy and nutrient-rich. It encourages healthy eating habits, such as the consumption of plenty of plant-based food, and reduction of unhealthy components.
Now that you know how the 1200 calorie paleo meal plans work, it is time to take a look at a couple of easy 1200 calorie paleo meal plan samples, with the help of which you can create your own 1200 calorie paleo meal plan for a month:
This meal plan is pretty rich in protein, which is great for muscle building and weight loss. It can prolong your feeling of fullness while helping you preserve your muscle mass, which in turn maintains your metabolism rate.
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This meal plan is less rich in protein compared to the previous one but is nevertheless extremely effective for helping you slim down and get back in shape. It offers you a rich choice of delicious meals and allows two snacks. So, if you often find yourself feeling hungry when following a meal plan with only one snack, then this plan can be exactly what you have been looking for.
Breakfast: 2 avocado sweet potato toasts with poached eggs (½ sweet potato, 2 eggs, ½ avocado, red pepper flakes, microgreens for garnish)
Do you like sweets? Say no more! This nutrient-rich paleo meal plan will satisfy even the most demanding sweet tooth while maintaining a healthy caloric deficit that will help you successfully drop a couple of pounds.
It may be extremely difficult to choose a nutritional plan that is both effective and safe at the same time when there are thousands of fad diets out there that all claim to be a revolution in the fitness world. That is why it is recommended that you stick to diets that have proven to be effective and have a vast amount of research to back them up. One of such diets is the Paleo diet. It is a nutritional plan that encourages healthy eating habits, such as the consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats.
If your goal is weight loss, then 1200-calorie paleo meal plans could be the right fit for you. They create an adequate caloric deficit and provide you with all the vital nutrients. There are different variations of these nutritional plans, so you can choose the one that you like the best. However, before starting to follow any new nutritional plan, please consult with a dietician.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!