The scale of an individual’s metabolism reveals if he carries a few added pounds or strives to put on weight to his frame. Genetics is one of the factors that determine a person’s metabolism. However, there are definite metabolic advantages when his activity level is increased. A body that is active and moves often is a body that functions well. But nowadays, people find it difficult to stay healthy as they love being inactive, sitting comfortably in front of their computers and/or watching TV. Changing their over-relaxed lifestyle to have a healthier living is hard for most. If they want to lose weight without putting too much pressure on it, one of the least complicated ways to do it is to eat a low calorie diet.
If a person loses more calories than he consumes, he will drop pounds either rapidly or slowly, depending on the kind of food he eats. When he follows a low calorie diet plan, he needs to take in about 1,000 to 1,800 calories, which depends on his body type and on how much weight he wants to lose.

Here are tips on planning and eating your way to a healthier living.

In preparing for a low calorie diet, you have to keep a food journal. It is effective to keep track of the food you eat for about two weeks before you start the calorie diet plan.

Second, create your personal daily menu. Use calorie guides or a calorie counter, which is available online, to find out how many calories are needed in your daily meals. Save those high calorie meals for special occasions and make a menu plan that has ingredients mostly low in calorie amount.

Third, once the menu is made, use it to write a grocery list. Use the list while shopping for food that is fit for your diet plan. Shop wisely by reading and checking the labels to select the lower-calorie groceries.

In following the prepared calorie diet plan, start with a low-calorie breakfast high in protein and fiber to boost your energy and control your hunger for the rest of the day. The breakfast includes two scrambled egg whites, a sugar-free bowl of cereal with skim milk or whole wheat toast with peanut butter. These will keep you energized throughout the morning, adding only about 200 to 350 calories to your diet.

For snacks, prepare regular and low-calorie food to eat all through the day, keeping your diet controlled and your energy stable. With a cup of non-buttered popcorn, a medium peach or nectarine and a small orange or 12 cherries, you are already stuffed adding only 100 calories to your diet.

You can also include various fruits and vegetables in your lunch to get the right amount of vitamins. A cheese or turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread or a green salad with shredded chicken, low-calorie dressing and cheese can add to less than 200 calories.

For dinner, try to avoid snacks. Your dinner needs to have baked fish or poultry, steamed fresh vegetables, brown rice and fresh fruit for dessert. This adds about 500 calories to your diet.

After you follow this diet plan, you should also occasionally bend your diet plan rules. This becomes an ineffective and negative calorie diet if you do not reward yourself with even a bite-size of your craving. It is better to eat a little of what you crave for than to strictly constrain yourself from eating anything that is not part of your diet.