High Protein, Low Carb, 1000 Calorie Diet

High-protein, low-carb diets are typically used for weight loss and are effective for some people, especially within the first six months of dieting. Diets containing 1,000 calories per day are considered reduced-calorie diets and can also be effective for weight loss. Combining a high-protein, low-carb diet with a 1,000-calorie diet plan can help you lose weight; however, long-term adherence to this type of diet may be difficult and several safety concerns may exist.

1,000-calorie Plan

Consuming 1,000 calories or less per day may be recommended for weight loss in some cases; however, most weight loss plans recommend between 1,200 and 1,600 calories per day. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, weight loss plans of 1,000 to 1,200 calories can help some women lose weight safely, but women who weigh more than 164 Ibs., or who exercise regularly, and men, usually require between 1,200 and 1,600 calories per day for weight loss. According to the Merck Manual of Medical Information, consuming less than 1,200 calories is only encouraged for a short period of time. Diets containing less than 800 calories per day are likely no more effective than plans between 800 and 1,000 calories, and are not recommend unless supervised by a medical professional.

High-protein, Low-carb Diets

High-protein, low-carb diets are usually effective for weight loss because individuals who follow these diets usually end up consuming fewer calories per day than before they started dieting. According to the American Dietetic Association), high-protein, low-carb diets have been more effective for weight loss than other low-calorie diets for the first six months of dieting; however, after a period of one year no significant differences are observed when comparing weight loss from low-carb diets vs. other reduced-calorie diets. An article in the August 2010 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine," reports on another study that had similar results when comparing individuals on a low-fat vs. a low-carbohydrate diet after two years of dieting. However, both low-carb and low-fat groups did lose weight after two years.

Concerns

Although high-protein, low-carb 1,000-calorie diets are effective for weight loss, they may not be the easiest or safest diets to follow on a long-term basis. Malnutrition is a concern because it's typically hard to consume adequate amounts of essential nutrients when limiting carbohydrates and only consuming 1,000 calories per day. Limiting carbohydrates usually means increasing fat intake above recommended levels, which may pose a risk for certain health conditions such as heart disease.

Recommendations

Since high-protein, low-carb diets usually are not more effective than other low-calorie diets after six months, these diets are usually unnecessary if a slow gradual weight loss is your goal. The American Dietetic Association recommends overweight individuals aim to lose about 1 to 2 Ibs. per week to achieve a safe and effective weight loss than can be maintained long-term. This goal is usually achieved by reducing daily calories by 500 to 1,000 per day, whether or not you're following a high-protein, low-carb diet. However, for some people, high-protein, low-carb diets can help reduce their daily calorie intakes by helping increase satiety.