7 day 1200 calories diet plan

Losing weight can feel like an impossibility at times, and getting started is probably the hardest part. But a detox diet can be just the thing to start things off - not only will sticking to an initial detox boost your immune system and encourage your brain to produce feel-good chemicals, but it'll kick off your weight loss too!

There are all sorts of detox plans out there, but it's important to remember that detoxing sucessfully doesn't mean going hungry. Using the same ideas behind popular fasting diets like the 5:2 and good old healthy eating, you can begin losing weight and feeling good in the process.

So set aside the next 7 days and we guarantee you'll see results!

What is it?

This one-week eating plan is a three-pronged attack. It kicks off the detoxifying process, increases your natural resistance to illness and encourages your brain to produce feel-good chemicals. This is not a diet for life and should only be used three or four times a year. But, used correctly, it should help you shed that excess baggage in just seven short days.

How does it work?

Be warned, the first day of this plan will be tough but if you stick with the strict fruit juice and yogurt regime, it will kick start your detox. After that, the calorie intake for each day varies, from 800 calories on Day 4, the special rice day, to 1300 calories on Day 6. This carefully controlled low-fat, low-calorie diet will ensure you lose weight while the high concentration of fruit and veg will flood your system with vitamins and minerals. The result will be glowing skin and a lighter you!

Who is it good for?

People who enjoy fruit and veg, people who want to cleanse their system. Vegetarians can also do this diet as it's mainly vegetarian and the odd piece of meat can easily be substituted with tofu or Quorn.

What are the drawbacks?

The large quantity of fruit and veg needed could be expensive and some of the meals are time consuming to prepare. This diet is probably best done during a week when you're not working as you might get a headache due to the detoxification process.

How do you follow the 7-day detox plan?

Simply follow this seven-day food plan exactly. To help detoxify your
body, each morning add 15ml of Pure Plan (available at all good health
stores) to 1 litre of still mineral water. This is a mixture of
dandelion, burdock, artichoke, fennel, seaweed, wild pansy and tamarind.
Make sure you drink the whole bottle during the day.

To compensate for any vitamin shortfall, you should also take a Genesis
multivitamin pill once a day and two teaspoons of the Swiss Herbal Tonic
BioStrath three times a day. These should both be available from health
food stores.

On top of the daily menus, you can treat yourself to an extra vitality
boost by whipping up a fruit smoothie. There are three delicious recipes
included to get you started.

Day 1: 600 calories

This is a fasting day. Drink loads of water and herbal teas throughout
the day. Breakfast, lunch and evening meal are the same: 1 glass of
unsweetened fruit or salt-free vegetable juice plus a carton of natural
live yogurt.

Try to start this diet on a non-working, quiet day and don't worry, it
does get easier!

Day 2: 1200 calories

Breakfast:
This is the standard breakfast you'll eat for the rest of the week. 1
portion fresh fruit (vary throughout the week between apple, pear,
mango, grapes, pineapple, grapefruit), 2 slices of wholemeal toast
spread with low fat cottage cheese, a carton of low-fat live yoghurt, a
small glass of skimmed milk and a cup of herb or weak Indian tea without
milk or sugar.

Lunch:
1 kiwi fruit, a mixed raw vegetable salad (a bed of iceberg lettuce,
filled with grated carrot, celeriac and beetroot, with a squeeze of
lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil) plus 150g (6oz) of any steamed
vegetables, sprinkled with a chopped clove of garlic and a drizzle of
olive oil. Herb or weak Indian tea.

Dinner:
50g (2 oz) blueberries and 100g (4oz) unsweetened muesli mixed with a
tablespoon of orange juice and a carton of low fat live yoghurt. Herb or
weak Indian tea.

Day 3: 1100 calorie

Breakfast:
As on day 2.

Lunch:
1 large mango, 150g (6 oz) mixed salad including watercress, fresh mint,
spring onions, tomato, red and yellow peppers, chicory, baby spinach
and beansprouts drizzled with a lemon juice and olive oil dressing.
1 large jacket potato with 50g (2oz) low-fat fromage frais whipped with
chopped chives and a clove of garlic. Vegetable juice.

Dinner:
1 carton of low-fat live yogurt mixed with blackberries, blueberries
and 1tsp of honey. 1 crusty wholemeal roll with a matchbox size piece of
soft cheese (brie, camembert, or similar). Herb or weak Indian tea.

Mix a carton of low-fat live yogurt with blackberries, blueberries and 1tsp of honey for an after dinner treat!

Day 4: 800 calories

This is a very special day where your main food will be rice. Start by
preparing the rice for the whole day. You'll need 225g (9oz) dry brown
rice cooked according to the packet's instructions. If you prefer, you
can cook half the rice in water and the other half in vegetable stock
for a more savoury flavour. Drink only water today.

Breakfast:
75g (3oz) cooked rice with 125g (5oz) stewed apple flavoured with honey, cinnamon and grated lemon rind.

Lunch:
75g (3oz) cooked rice with 175g (7oz) steamed vegetables - celery, leek, carrot, tomato, spinach, broccoli and shredded cabbage.

Dinner:
75g (3oz) cooked rice mixed with soaked dried apricots, raisins, sultanas, and the flesh of a pink grapefruit.

Day 4 is rice day. You'll need 225g (9oz) dry brown rice, half of which you can cook in water and half in vegetable stock

Day 5: 1100 calories

Breakfast:
As on day 2.

Lunch:
1 apple, 1 pear, 150g (6oz) raw vegetable salad (cauliflower and
broccoli florets, carrot, spring onion, grated red cabbage, mange tout)
tossed in olive oil and cider vinegar dressing, sprinkled with a
teaspoon of raisins and 3 chopped brazil nuts. Large jacket potato
filled with 75g (3oz) steamed spinach chopped with 2 teaspoons of olive
oil, clove of garlic and a generous grating of nutmeg. Herb or weak
Indian tea.

Dinner:
75g (3oz) fromage frais mixed with 1 carton of low-fat live yoghurt,
poured over a generous bowl of mixed fruit salad, including kiwi,
pineapple, orange, grapes, blueberries, apple. Cup of herb tea.

We love a jacket potato! Fill today's with steamed spinach chopped with 2tsp olive oil, garlic and nutmeg

Day 6: 1300 calories

Breakfast:
As on day 2.

Lunch:
1 banana, 150g (6oz) mixed salad (shredded iceberg lettuce tomato,
olives, red pepper, carrot, spring onions, cucumber, a clove of garlic,
fennel and watercress) with a dressing of lemon juice, walnut oil and
tarragon. 1 large jacket potato with 75g (3oz) steamed French or runner
beans with a dessertspoon of sunflower oil sprinkled with finely
chopped onions. Herb or weak Indian tea.

Dinner:
75g (3oz) muesli mixed with lemon juice, 1tsp honey, grated apple and 1
carton of low-fat live yoghurt. 1 slice wholemeal bread with a matchbox
sized piece of brie, camembert or similar soft cheese. 1 slice wholemeal
bread with honey. Cup of tea.

Top 1 slice of wholemeal bread with honey and have with a cup of tea - yum!

Day 7: 1200 calories

Breakfast:
As on day 2

Lunch:
150g (6oz) mixed salad (watercress, baby spinach, mixed lettuce leaves,
parsley, celery, garlic, chives, basil, tomato - with a dressing of 1/3
walnut oil, 1/3 olive oil, 1/3 cider vinegar and a teaspoon of Dijon
mustard, sprinkled with sunflower seeds). 75g (3oz) boiled potatoes and
trout stuffed with finely chopped parsley, onion, tomato and pine nuts,
covered in thinly sliced lemon, baked in foil with a little olive oil.
(If you're vegetarian or don't like fish, stir-fry tofu with shredded
carrot, bean sprouts, mange tout and soy sauce or have a grilled veggie
burger.)
A glass of dry white wine.

Dinner:
1 pink grapefruit, 2 poached free-range eggs on 2 slices of wholemeal toast with a scrape of butter. Herb or weak Indian tea.

And remember...

Whatever the weather, it's important to exercise during this week. A
brisk 20-minute walk three times a week will make all the difference to
this plan.

For weight loss and a terrific extra vitality boost, drink juices regularly throughout your detox. A juice machine is probably the best health investment you can make. Try these for starters:

Blue Passion:
This juice is guaranteed to chase away the blues and make your skin
glow. In a blender, whizz together 100g (4oz) blueberries, 3 passion
fruit, 1 medium Cantaloupe melon and 1 mango

Scarborough Fair:
This calming juice nourishes body, mind and spirit. Blend together 4
carrots, 3 sticks celery, handful parsley, 6 sage leaves, 2 tsp rosemary