Fact checked by Andrew Lenau, ISSA CPT & Sports Nutritionist
FACT CHECKEDLet's face it. Losing weight is hard. But it doesn't have to be complicated.
In a world where fad diets and weight loss gimmicks abound, it's easy to get lost in the noise and lose sight of what truly works when achieving sustainable weight loss.
In this article, we'll dive into the world of weight loss diets and explore the benefits, drawbacks, and best practices for achieving your weight loss goals.
Whether you want to lose a few pounds or completely transform your body, this article will provide the tools and knowledge to help you succeed. Plus, we will give you a 28-day meal plan to get you started.
So get ready and prepare to embark on your weight loss journey with confidence!
Table of Contents:
A meal plan for weight loss is a structured eating plan designed to help individuals lose weight by controlling their calorie intake. It makes consistency and adherence easier, which are two of the most important aspects of weight loss success.
Meal preparation and planning has been a staple in the bodybuilding community for decades. Food selection can vary depending on the individual's needs and preferences.
However, most weight loss meal plans focus on lean protein sources, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while limiting processed and high-calorie foods.
Overall, a weight loss meal plan is helpful for individuals looking to lose weight healthily and sustainably. It can provide structure and guidance for healthy eating while also helping to control calorie intake.
The basic idea behind losing weight is to create a calorie deficit. This means you consume fewer calories than your body requires to carry out all daily functions.
When your body doesn't have enough calories to fuel its needs, it uses stored energy to make up the difference, resulting in weight loss.
A calorie deficit of roughly 3,500 calories is needed to lose one pound of fat. So, based on this, you need to use 3,500 calories more than you consume to lose one pound per week.
You can achieve this calorie deficit by reducing your calorie intake by an average of 500 calories daily.
It's important to note the calorie deficit doesn't need to come from nutrition exclusively. Increasing activity, like finding a workout split you enjoy, can be a part of the weight loss journey as well.
As the expression goes, "You can't out-train a bad diet." For weight loss, the importance of nutrition can't be overstated.
Weight loss is all about creating a calorie deficit. We can do that by reducing calorie intake, increasing activity, or a little of both.
For those who hate the idea of dieting (I don't blame you), it may seem enticing to lean into the activity side of the fat loss equation. From a math standpoint, it can make sense. However, reality has a knack for deviating from our expectations.
Although exercise, including resistance training, LISS cardio, and HIIT, has many health benefits and is an integral part of losing weight, it can't be the only method for facilitating weight loss. The truth is, working out burns fewer calories than you would think.
Get this: The average person only burns around 150 calories running a mile. For context, a serving of peanut butter (2 tablespoons) is 200 calories. Consuming several hundred calories is relatively easy by eating a snack or drinking a sugar-sweetened soda.
Still, it can take an hour or more of intense exercise to burn those same calories. It can work for a short period, but that is not a game you want to play long-term.
The best weight loss approach is to create a deficit primarily with changes in nutrition habits and use activity to assist, but not be the primary driver of progress.
You may wonder about the best diet since nutrition is essential to weight loss. Unfortunately, a one size fits all ultimate fat-loss diet doesn't exist. The best one is a healthy diet you can follow, whether it's following a vegan or vegetarian diet, carb cycling, the Mediterranean diet, the Mayo Clinic diet, a low fat diet, low carb diet, or something else entirely.
Many factors can impact weight loss, but here are eight of the most significant.
The time it takes to lose weight depends on various factors, including your starting weight, body composition, dietary habits, exercise routine, and adherence. Generally, it is recommended to aim for a healthy and sustainable weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week. However, if you have a lot of weight to lose, you can drop weight quicker than that.
Assuming a healthy and sustainable rate of weight loss, losing 10 pounds could take around 5-10 weeks, while losing 20 pounds could take 10-20 weeks.
If you have a lot of weight to lose, 50 or more pounds, it may make sense to break the weight loss into chunks. For example, you can lose the first 25 pounds over 15 weeks, take a break for a month, and resume the diet to finish the rest of the weight.
This strategy is called a diet break, which is a planned period during a weight loss journey where an individual increases caloric intake to maintenance or slightly above.
A diet break gives the body a break from a calorie-restricted diet, allowing it to recover and adapt to the new weight loss status. The key is not raising calories too high and adding back extra weight. Adding a couple of pounds is acceptable and even expected.
It is important to note every weight loss journey is different and individual results may vary. Plus, the weight loss process is not linear. You will have weeks with fast weight loss and weeks with barely any weight loss. It is all part of the process.
To get a better sense of timing in extreme weight-loss cases, check out our article: Is It Possible To Lose 30 Pounds In A Month?
When setting up a weight loss program, food quality and what foods support weight loss are natural questions.
News headlines have told us that specific foods are to blame for the obesity epidemic. Sometimes it's sugar, other times, saturated fat or processed food. But eating those foods is not the only issue. Remember, it's not any specific food or food group in isolation. You can even gain weight following vegetarian diets.
The main thing preventing you from losing weight is eating too many calories. Any food can support weight loss as long as it's part of a calorically restricted diet. With that said, food quality and choosing healthy foods matters. There is more to nutrition than just calories and macronutrients. Other factors to consider are micronutrients, fiber, and satiety.
Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains is the best way to ensure you hit the recommended daily micronutrients. Plus, fruits and vegetables are great for weight loss diets because they are low-calorie and nutrient-dense, meaning you get a lot of nutrients without many calories.
For example, a whole pint of strawberries is only around 100 calories. The same goes for green veggies. A large bag of mixed greens is only about 50 calories. You can hit your macros without eating fruits and vegetables, but you will likely feel hungry and unsatisfied.
A diet full of fruits and vegetables will also make hitting your daily fiber intake much more manageable. Fiber helps with digestion, prevents constipation, improves satiety, helps control blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, high protein low fat foods should comprise the bulk of your weight loss diet. Out of all of the macronutrients, protein is the most satiating. Protein will also help you build and maintain muscle during weight loss. Chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef, eggs, and low-fat dairy are all excellent protein sources. Adding a high-protein meal replacement bar to your daily eating plan can also ensure you feel full without overeating.
You may be wondering about starchy carbohydrates. The best carbohydrate sources are ones with a good amount of fiber. Whole grains, potatoes, and high-fiber bread.
In 1995, researchers put together a study to determine the satiety index of common foods2. The study found that the most satiating foods tested were boiled potatoes, fish, oatmeal, apples, oranges, beef, and beans. To no one's surprise, candy and baked goods were the least satiating.
In general, two types of food are bad for weight loss. Highly palatable foods and highly processed foods.
Food palatability refers to the subjective experience of how pleasant or satisfying a food tastes, smells, and feels in the mouth. It is influenced by various factors, including the flavor, texture, aroma, temperature, appearance of the food, and individual preferences.
The most palatable foods are calorically dense: cookies, cake, candy, chips, French fries, pizza, bacon, etc. Any food that tastes great and is considered unhealthy is probably highly palatable.
The issue with these foods is because they taste so good, it is tough not to overeat them. Think about it. You can be stuffed from a big dinner but still find room to eat more when the dessert tray comes out.
It's not that you can never eat highly palatable foods. You can. Just be mindful of how easy they are to overeat.
Next is processed foods. Defining processed food can be challenging since most food at the store is subject to some level of processing. But processed food is any item altered in some way from its natural state, usually for convenience or preservation purposes. Most processed foods have multiple ingredients.
A 2019 study looked at ultra-processed food and found them to be significantly less satiating than minimally processed foods3. The study had 20 people in a clinic setting for 28 days. Because they stayed in the clinic for the entire study duration, the subjects only had access to the foods provided, nothing else.
For the first two weeks, subjects followed either a minimally or ultra-processed diet. After the first two weeks, they switched to the opposite diet for two weeks. In both cases, the subjects were allowed to eat as much as they desired.
The findings were fascinating. The subjects consumed, on average, 500 calories more per day on the ultra-processed diet than on the minimally processed diet.
What's compelling is that the researchers manipulated the diets to make them as similar as possible in terms of protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, and micronutrients. So, although the foods available were set up similarly, people still ate more when offered ultra-processed foods.
Again, it's not that you can never have processed food. Just make sure the bulk of your diet is minimally processed, which will help you avoid overeating. And when a sweet tooth hits, find good alternatives to try, like these protein cookies!
Following a meal plan for weight loss can be a game-changer in reaching your health and fitness goals. It provides structure and organization to your eating habits and offers a myriad of benefits that can help you achieve sustainable weight loss.
While following a weight loss meal plan has many benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks.
Meal plans for weight loss can be helpful for some people, but they may not be suitable for everyone. Here are some general guidelines regarding who should and shouldn't follow a meal plan for weight loss.
Before creating a meal plan for weight loss, we must determine calorie intake. As we know, weight loss is all about creating a calorie deficit. To do this, we must first calculate our maintenance calories, or the amount of food our body requires to maintain weight.
There are many formulas for this, but this one is simple and effective.
The numbers in the parenthesis (1.2-2.2) are used to factor in daily activity. How much you move around has a significant impact on daily calorie expenditure.
The more sedentary you are, use a value closer to 1.2. And the more active you are, use a number closer to 2.2.
Here is an example of a semi-active 165-pound male.
Theoretically, if the 165-pound male consistently ate 2475 calories, it would not change his body weight.
Once we know our maintenance calories, we have to subtract from that number to create a weight-loss diet.
The trick is knowing how many calories to reduce. Don't worry. It's actually pretty simple. Aim to lose 1-2 pounds per week for sustainable weight loss. As mentioned, losing one pound of fat takes a 3500 weekly calorie deficit or 500 daily.
Using our maintenance calorie intake of 2475, subtracting 500 from that number leaves us with a weight loss diet goal of 1975 calories.
To customize this, just put your values into the formula above.
Once we know how many daily calories we need for weight loss, all that is left is distributing those calories into protein, carbohydrates, and fat.
Let's start with protein. Evidence indicates eating around one gram of protein per pound of body weight maximizes muscle building4. In our example, 165 grams of daily protein will be the goal.
Eating enough protein will help maintain muscle during the weight loss phase. Lean proteins, like grilled chicken breast, are great for weight loss, and I recommend finding a good protein powder supplement as well.
Determining carbohydrate and fat intake is more nuanced. Some people prefer low-carb diets, while others favor low fat. A comprehensive 12-month study involving over 600 subjects found no significant weight change between low-fat and low-carb diets5.
At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. However, based on years of coaching, I find most people do better with a moderate approach. I recommend a fat intake of 25% of the total daily calories. The rest of the calories will come from carbohydrates.
Macros For Weight Loss:
Contrary to popular belief, losing weight and building muscle is possible. However, it comes down to your starting point.
The two categories of people with the best chance to build muscle while losing fat are new lifters or people with a lot of weight to lose. That said, if you don't fall into either of those categories, all hope is not lost.
Here are some tips to help you achieve both goals:
Here are the foods you need to follow the 28-day meal plan, broken down into each week. This means that if you're on week 1 of the plan, you only need to pick up the items on the week 1 shopping list, when you reach week two, pick up the week 2 items, and so on.
Ready to prepare for week 1? Here's what you need!
Protein:
Carbohydrates:
Fruit:
Vegetables:
Fats:
Drinks:
Here's what you need for week two's meals.
Protein:
Carbohydrates:
Fruit:
Vegetables:
Fats:
Drinks:
Congrats on being at week 3! Here's what you need to make your meals.
Protein:
Carbohydrates:
Fruit:
Vegetables:
Fats:
Drinks:
Here are the food and drink items you need for your week 4 weight loss meals.
Protein:
Carbohydrates:
Fruit:
Vegetables:
Fats:
Drinks:
Ready to get started? Here's a healthy meal plan that includes 4 weeks of meals that will support your weight loss goals.
Lean proteins, fruits and veggies, and satisfying snacks on the menu for your week 1 weight loss plan!
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1999 calories, 162g protein, 203g carbs, 57g fat
Breakfast: |
2 whole eggs 4 egg whites 60g oats 1 medium apple |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz cod 145g white rice 100g asparagus 10g olive oil |
Nutrition:
462 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz sirloin 8oz sweet potato 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition: 583 calories |
Snack: |
1.5 scoops protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium banana 16g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1975 calories, 167g protein, 209g carbs, 53g fat
Breakfast: |
4 whole eggs 80g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
5oz chicken breast 145g white rice 1 cup broccoli ½ tbs butter |
Nutrition:
463 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz salmon 10oz russet potato 1 cup green beans |
Nutrition: 563 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium banana 16g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1956 calories, 164g protein, 206g carbs, 53g fat
Breakfast: |
1 scoop of protein powder 150g low-fat Greek yogurt 60g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
1 can tuna
8oz russet potato½ tbs butter |
Nutrition:
376 calories |
Dinner: |
7oz salmon 145g rice Green salad 2tbs salad dressing |
Nutrition: 658 calories |
Snack: |
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese 2 chocolate rice cakes 16g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1915 calories, 161g protein, 204g carbs, 52g fat
Breakfast: |
4 whole eggs 3 cups multigrain cheerios 8oz almond milk |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz chicken breast
145g rice 1 cup broccoli ½ tbs butter |
Nutrition:
499 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz haddock 8oz russet potato |
Nutrition: 377 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium orange 28 almonds |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1932 calories, 165g protein, 209g carb, 55g fat
Breakfast: |
6 egg whites 1 whole grain bagel 32g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
8oz lean ground beef
145g rice 1 cup green beans |
Nutrition:
573 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz chicken breast 8oz sweet potato Green salad 2tbs salad dressing |
Nutrition: 528 calories |
Snack: |
1 low-carb protein bar 1 medium banana |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1928 calories, 162 G protein, 207g carbs, 51g fat
Breakfast: |
4 whole eggs 1 cup blueberries 1 medium banana |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
5oz chicken
1.5 cups quinoa 1 cup green beans 10g olive oil |
Nutrition:
577 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz salmon 1.5 servings pasta 1 serving pasta sauce |
Nutrition: 624 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium apple |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1976 calories, 167g protein, 207g carbs, 53g fat
Breakfast: |
1 scoop protein powder 80g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
5oz chicken
220g rice ½ tbs butter |
Nutrition:
533 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz 93% lean ground beef 2 hamburger buns 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition: 590 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium apple 16g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Seafood and shrimp are high protein staples for week 2, as are eggs, whole grains, and tons of produce!
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1972 calories, 165g protein, 206g carbs, 56g fat
Breakfast: |
3 whole eggs 3 egg whites 2 slices whole grain bread 2tbs strawberry jam |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz tilapia 145g white rice 100g Brussels sprouts 14g olive oil |
Nutrition:
528 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz chicken breast 10oz sweet potato 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition: 491 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 cup strawberries 1oz cashews |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1910 calories, 168g protein, 210g carbs, 55g fat
Breakfast: |
6 egg whites 40g cheddar cheese 80g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz shrimp 145g white rice 1 cup green beans 1tbs butter |
Nutrition:
468 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz chicken thighs 10oz russet potato 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition: 543 calories |
Snack: |
1 low-carb protein bar 150g low-fat Greek yogurt |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 2033 calories, 168g protein, 2005 carbs, 60g fat
Breakfast: |
2 whole eggs 2 pieces Canadian bacon Whole grain bagel 2tbs strawberry jam |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz 99% lean ground turkey 1.5 cups quinoa 100g avocado 100g green peas |
Nutrition:
729 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz pork loin Large green salad 2tbs salad dressing |
Nutrition: 543 calories |
Snack: |
1.5 scoops protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium banana |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1925 calories, 165g protein, 204g carbs, 52g fat
Breakfast: |
1 scoop protein powder 80g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
5oz chicken breast 145g rice 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition:
414 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz 99% lean ground beef 8oz russet potato 1.5 cups green beans 10g coconut oil |
Nutrition: 390 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium apple 25g almonds |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1917 calories, 163g protein, 201g carbs, 53g fat
Breakfast: |
4 whole eggs 80g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
1 can tuna 145g rice 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition:
340 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz salmon 8oz sweet potato 1.5 cups green beans |
Nutrition: 589 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium pear 25g almonds |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 2014 calories, 162g protein, 203g carbs, 59g fat
Breakfast: |
3 whole eggs 4 slices Canadian bacon 80g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
5oz cod 145g rice 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition:
350 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz sirloin 1 serving pasta 1 serving pasta sauce 100g asparagus |
Nutrition: 652 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium banana 25g almonds |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 2008 calories, 166g protein, 208g carbs, 56g fat
Breakfast: |
6 whole eggs Whole grain bagel 1tbs strawberry jelly |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
5oz chicken breast 145g rice 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition:
414 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz Haddock 1 serving pasta 1 serving pasta sauce 100g asparagus |
Nutrition: 453 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium banana 25g almonds |
Nutrition: |
Have you weighed yourself recently? If not, be sure to step on the scale! It's a good idea to weigh yourself on a regular basis, so you can make adjustments, up or down, to your macros as needed.
Just be warned that daily fluctuations are perfectly normal.
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1943 calories, 165g protein, 200g carbs, 55g fat
Breakfast: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 3 cups multigrain Cheerios |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz chicken breast 145g white rice 1 cup broccoli 1tbs butter |
Nutrition:
549 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz sirloin 6oz russet potato |
Nutrition: 522 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium apple 25g almonds |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1992 calories, 169g protein, 205g carbs, 57g fat
Breakfast: |
3 whole eggs 90g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
1 can tuna 145g white rice 150g edamame 1tbs butter |
Nutrition:
556 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz salmon 200g black beans 1.5 cups green beans |
Nutrition: 521 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium banana 16 peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1986 calories, 164g protein, 200g carbs, 54g fat
Breakfast: |
2 whole eggs 6 egg whites 2 packets of cream of wheat 1 medium apple |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz cod 145g white rice 100g asparagus |
Nutrition:
372 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz NY strip 8oz sweet potato 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition: 743 calories |
Snack: |
1.5 scoops protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium banana |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1947 calories, 166g protein, 200g carbs, 54g fat
Breakfast: |
1.5 scoops protein powder 200g low-fat Greek Yogurt 60g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
1 can tuna 8oz russet potato 1 cup broccoli 1/2tbs butter |
Nutrition:
406 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz Haddock 100g rice Large green salad 2 tbs salad dressing |
Nutrition: 456 calories |
Snack: |
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese 2 chocolate rice cakes 32g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1973 calories, 168g protein, 204g carbs, 55g fat
Breakfast: |
4 whole eggs 3 cups multigrain cheerios 1 cup almond milk |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz 99% lean ground turkey 145g rice 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition:
425 calories |
Dinner: |
5oz salmon 7oz russet potato 1 cup green beans |
Nutrition: 439 calories |
Snack: |
1.5 scoops protein powder 1 cup almond milk 1 medium orange 30g pumpkin seeds |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1904 calories, 162g protein, 203g carbs, 55g fat
Breakfast: |
6 egg whites Whole grain bagel 32g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
8oz 93% lean ground beef 145g rice 1 cup green beans |
Nutrition:
573 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz pork loin 6oz sweet potato 1 cup broccoli 100g asparagus |
Nutrition: 466 calories |
Snack: |
1 low-carb protein bar 1 medium banana |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1935 calories, 161g protein, 203g carbs, 54g fat
Breakfast: |
2 whole eggs 1 cup blueberries 1 cup strawberries ½ medium banana 28g almonds |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz chicken breast 1.25 cups quinoa 10g olive oil 100g Brussels sprouts |
Nutrition:
578 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz salmon 1.5 servings of pasta 1 cup pasta sauce |
Nutrition: 624 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium apple |
Nutrition: |
You've reached week 4 of your meal plan; great job! Finish out the month strong.
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1893 calories, 164g protein, 205g carbs, 53g fat
Breakfast: |
1.25 scoops protein powder 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese 60g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
1 can of tuna 220g white rice 1 cup broccoli 1/2tbs butter |
Nutrition:
490 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz haddock 6oz sweet potato Green salad 2tbs salad dressing |
Nutrition: 437 calories |
Snack: |
1 low-carb protein bar 1 chocolate rice cake 32g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 2000 calories, 168g protein, 203g carbs, 57g fat
Breakfast: |
4 whole eggs 3 cups multigrain Cheerios 8oz almond milk |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz 99% lean turkey breast 145g white rice 1 cup broccoli 1 medium avocado |
Nutrition:
606 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz salmon 6oz russet potato 1 cup green beans |
Nutrition: 455 calories |
Snack: |
1.5 scoops protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 small orange |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1986 calories, 166g protein, 206g carbs, 55g fat
Breakfast: |
6 egg whites Whole grain bagel 32g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
8oz 93% lean ground beef 7oz sweet potato 100g asparagus |
Nutrition:
537 calories |
Dinner: |
8oz pork loin 8oz russet potato 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition: 509 calories |
Snack: |
1.5 scoops protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium banana 1 cup blueberries |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1977 calories, 166g protein, 208g carbs, 53g fat
Breakfast: |
3 whole eggs 1 cup blueberries 1 cup strawberries 2 packets of cream of wheat |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz chicken breast 1 cup quinoa 12g olive oil 100g Brussels sprouts |
Nutrition:
551 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz chicken thighs 100g black beans 145g rice 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition: 579 calories |
Snack: |
1.5 scoops protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium apple 1 cup blueberries |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1971 calories, 164g protein, 203g carbs, 56g fat
Breakfast: |
1 scoop protein powder 80g oats 25g almonds |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
5oz chicken breast 175g rice ½ tbs butter 1 cup green beans |
Nutrition:
506 calories |
Dinner: |
7oz 93% lean ground beef 2 hamburger buns 1 cup broccoli |
Nutrition: 548 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 medium apple 16g peanut butter |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1971 calories, 161g protein, 210g carbs, 52g fat
Breakfast: |
2 whole eggs 4 egg whites Whole grain bagel 2tbs strawberry jam |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz 99% lean ground turkey 145g rice 1 medium avocado 100g Brussels sprouts |
Nutrition:
619 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz chicken breast 10oz sweet potato 1 cup broccoli 1tbs butter |
Nutrition: 590 calories |
Snack: |
1 scoop protein powder 8oz almond milk 1 cup strawberries |
Nutrition: |
Daily nutrition breakdown: 1958 calories, 164g protein, 207g carbs, 56g fat
Breakfast: |
7 egg whites 80g oats |
Nutrition: |
Lunch: |
6oz sirloin 145g rice 1 cup green beans 1 tbsp butter |
Nutrition:
602 calories |
Dinner: |
6oz salmon 8oz russet potato Large green salad 2tbs salad dressing |
Nutrition: 601 calories |
Snack: |
1 low-carb protein bar 150g low-fat Greek yogurt |
Nutrition: |
Four weeks is an excellent start, but chances are you have not reached your goals yet. Therefore, following the first month, you will need a plan for what to do.
If you are still losing weight at your desired rate, maintain the current calorie and macronutrient goals. Change as little as possible.
Use the structure from the meal plan provided to build out another thirty days' worth of meals. If you are tired of a particular food, replace it with something similar. For example, if you can't stomach eating chicken nearly every day, rotate in more fish, turkey, or lean pork.
Or, if you want to switch things up even more, you can try another one of our meal plans, like this high protein vegetarian meal plan or this 16/8 intermittent fasting meal plan.
Another great strategy to consider after four weeks is to give your weight loss efforts a boost using supplements. One of these 8 Best Supplements For Cutting may be just what you need to keep your results going.
The most important thing is having a plan before the meal plan ends. You don't want to be left without a plan and fall back into old habits.
How long you should follow a weight loss meal plan depends on how much weight you have to lose. Be patient and follow the diet as long as necessary to reach your goals.
On average, aim to lose 1-2 pounds per week. This is an excellent rate of progress for sustainable weight loss. Once you have achieved your desired weight loss goal, it's essential to transition to a maintenance diet that can help you sustain your progress.
Losing weight is challenging, but keeping the weight off is an entirely different story.
It's cliché, but changing your lifestyle is the best way to achieve lasting fitness results. This means that instead of looking at diet and exercise as a short-term solution, it needs to become part of who you are. Any progress you make will be short-lived unless you change your habits.
When you have been eating junk food for years, it will take time to break those habits and establish new ones. People who lose weight and keep it off typically reinvent themselves as someone who eats healthy and exercises. They essentially leave the old them in the past.
A recent systematic review looking at successful long-term weight maintenance found continuous monitoring and goal setting were two of the most common aspects of people who maintained weight loss6.
Individuals who successfully lose weight and then keep it off continue to monitor their nutrition and be mindful of portion sizes. They continue tracking what they eat or following a meal plan after completing the weight loss journey.
Additionally, they continued to have goals for daily activity and nutrition. People who lost weight and kept it off were more active than their unsuccessful counterparts.
Here are some tips that can help you achieve weight loss success.
During your weight loss journey, set realistic goals and break them down into smaller chunks. This will help you stay motivated. Be patient because weight loss often takes longer than you initially think.
Keep a food journal or use an app to track everything you eat. Doing so will help you become more aware of your eating habits and make healthier food choices.
It is very challenging to estimate how many calories you are eating. Even people who know a lot about nutrition need help counting calories and tracking portions.
Avoid eating when watching TV, reading, working, or driving. Doing so will cause you to eat more without even realizing it.
When it is time to eat, focus on just eating your meal. Also, take your time and enjoy it.
Drinking extra fluids can help you feel full and reduce your appetite. Plus, dehydration can decrease training performance.
Water is best, but other calorie-free drinks like coffee, tea, or even diet soda can act as a treat.
Weight loss can be mentally and physically challenging. Working with a coach can keep you motivated and accountable.
Plus, a high-quality coach will know when to adjust your diet and workouts to ensure you reach your goals in the most time-efficient way possible.
There comes a point in every weight loss journey where the thought of quitting enters your mind.
During these times, it's important to remember why you started. Whether to improve longevity, feel better, or look better naked, keep this reason close to you and use it to push through the hard times.
Last but not least, exercise. You can lose weight without exercising, but it is incredibly difficult. Follow a 4 day workout split or 5-day workout split, mixing in regular cardio as well.
It even goes beyond just the calorie burn. Research shows exercise can motivate you to regulate your food intake and choose healthier options7.
Although a weight loss nutrition plan is essential, regular exercise is also part of the equation. Here are a few reasons why.
Several types of exercises can be helpful when following a weight-loss meal plan. Here are some of the best types of exercise to consider:
Any remaining questions regarding meal plans for weight loss? Let's answer them!
Any diet can effectively lose weight if it puts you in a calorie deficit and has adequate protein intake. The best meal plan for losing weight is the one you can stick to.
To lose 20 pounds in a month, you will need to lose 5 pounds per week. Since it takes 3500 calories to lose one pound, to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need a deficit of 17,500 which comes out to a 2,500 daily calorie deficit. Losing 20 pounds in a month might be too aggressive unless you have a lot of weight to lose.
To lose weight in 7 days, ensure your diet is primarily lean protein, complex carbs, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. The key is to eat fewer calories than your body requires to maintain weight.
Many diets fail simply due to a lack of adherence. A diet can only work if followed. However, most diets are overly restrictive. You only need to lose 1-2 pounds weekly for healthy and sustainable weight loss. Pick a dieting strategy that fits your lifestyle and includes some foods you enjoy.
The best way to avoid regaining weight is to have a plan for after your fat loss journey. Avoid falling back into old habits. Treat weight maintenance with the same effort and planning as weight loss.
You did it! You've made it to the end of this monster article. But the journey doesn't end here. In fact, this is just the beginning. Now that you have the tools, you have to put them to the test.
Start with the 28-day meal plan provided, and build momentum from there. Beyond the first month, feel free to mix up your meals and try new healthy recipes. Remember, sustainable weight loss is not about quick fixes or deprivation but long-term, healthy lifestyle changes.
With dedication and consistency, you can achieve your weight loss goals and live your best life. Good luck!
Interested in more meal plans? Check out our 7 Day Bodybuilding High Protein Meal Plan, 7 Day Carb Cycling Meal Plan, and 16/8 Intermittent Fasting Meal Plan!
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Kyle Hunt
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