Trying to lose weight quickly? In this article, we'll take a look at some delicious menu selections from one restaurant which has a Weight Watcher's point system where meals are under 500 calories.
For most people, a 500 calorie diet isn’t healthy, nor recommended, but some choose to go on it anyway, for the short term, to eliminate excess weight and fat.If you do plan to do this, consider the pros and cons.
The Pros of a 500 Calorie Diet
Obviously, eating less calories helps you drop weight quickly. Another benefit of eating less calories is having less to pack for breakfasts and lunches for work. You can save time and money on meal plans. Also, there is an emotional high that comes from eating less. Your self-esteem will be strengthened by your commitment to stick to this diet. You will feel more disciplined and motivated with each day's success.
The Cons of a 500 Calorie Diet
Basically a 500 calorie diet is not recommended. In fact, it's best to check with your doctor before going on such an extreme diet. Most health professionals say you can lose weight on a 1,200 to 1,800 calorie diet and that 500 calories a day isn't the way to go, but if you do decide to eat less than 1,200 calories, be sure to carefully consider how you're feeling physically. Some people report not having much energy. This makes sense as calories (of the right kind) help build the body's strength. Another reason a 500 calorie diet isn't the best way to go is because you will feel hungry all the time. The most important reason to be very careful on such a diet is because your body's organs will lose protein.
Some people consider this diet as starving oneself, which is never a good idea. Many are also adding a hormone to the 500 calorie diet, known as HCG, human chorionic gonadotrophin. “Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) is a hormone found in the urine of pregnant women. More than 50 years ago, Dr. Albert T. Simeons, a British-born physician, contended that HCG injections would enable dieters to subsist comfortably on a 500-calorie-a-day diet. He claimed that HCG would mobilize stored fat; suppress appetite; and redistribute fat from the waist, hips, and thighs [1]. There is no scientific evidence to support these claims [2-13]. Moreover, a 500-calorie (semi-starvation) diet is likely to result in loss of protein from vital organs, and HCG can cause other adverse effects.” http://www.dietscam.org/reports/hcg.shtml
An Alternative to the 500 Calorie Diet
After reading about the cons associated with the 500 calorie diet, hopefully you will consider an alternative. Perhaps just lowering your calorie intake to a moderate instead of extreme level will help. Also, just be aware that when eating out, you CAN find restaurants that have decent, healthy low-calorie entrées on their menus. These entrées can help you eat less and get the proper nutrition, too. Below we will look at one restaurant that has great choices for under 500 calories.