Will I Lose Weight If I Eat Once A Day?

Traditional diet and health wisdom advises dieters to eat multiple small meals each day. The theory is that eating too few meals will cause a sluggish metabolism in which the body tries to guard every calorie it takes. Also, most adults cannot get enough energy from very little food. You can lose weight by eating one meal per day, but you should drink plenty of healthy juices and water throughout the day.

Your main meal should include baked or broiled lean protein such as fish, vegetables and a little bit of rice or potatoes. If you get hungry during the day, drink fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth or 100 percent pure fruit or vegetable juice. If you feel faint, try to eat a snack of no more than 100 to 150 calories. A few nuts or a piece of fruit is a good choice.

Experts who support the one meal a day weight loss plan differ on what time of the day you should eat your main meal. Some people swear by eating the meal at night, while others say eat it in the morning or mid-day. You will need to figure out for yourself when is the best time for you to eat. If you tend to break your diet at night, you are probably better off eating your main meal for dinner. However, if you snack throughout the day you should eat your main meal earlier.

Exercising is an important part of any diet plan, but if you have a lot of weight to lose do not try to change too many habits at once. Gradual changes last longer and unless you are very sedentary you do not necessarily need to start working out two hours a day. Focus on your food intake first and make small activity changes such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Once you feel comfortable with your food intake, then focus more of your energies on taking exercise classes or working out with a personal trainer.

If you cannot handle the one meal a day diet, you are not a failure. Many people simply cannot sustain over the long haul the willpower required. Consider trying a meal replacement program, where you drink diet shakes for two of your meals and eat one sensible meal. Or try to eat two main meals and drink healthy liquids the rest of the time. If you have difficulty settling on a good diet plan, talk to your doctor or a nutritionist. Above all, do not give up!