A social media user has spoken about their journey trialing one meal a day and highlighted the benefits they found from doing so.
With many people focused on their health and weight, it can be a little bit difficult to know what diet is best for you.
And while there are many options available, some simply don’t seem to work for one reason or another.
Discussing one of the most popular - the one meal a day diet - a Reddit user revealed their strict diet plan and explained how well it worked for them.
Although it is easy to understand why most wouldn’t want to give it a go given the fact its well below the healthy amount of food you should be eating in a day.
The person outlined the rules, stating that he went from intermittent fasting for six months to one meal a day, and of that one meal, they don’t have sugar, rice, bread, carbs, or junk food (what else is there?!).
They added that it was similar to a keto diet in that all of their carbs come from natural vegetables and fruits.
They explained: “I do coffee in the AM and some tea in the afternoon. I feel super hungry by about 6 but found that I really don't eat much when I sit down. A few bites can hold me over until the next day.
“I did also did try a psuedo 48 hour run. ( had about 100 calories over 2 days). Not as hard as you think. I could probably make it 3. Eventually I want to get to a 48 hour fast a week, or even two. I found for me, getting started on the weekend was easiest.”
100 calories over two days is significantly below the healthy and recommended calorie intake for both men and women.
According to the Cleveland clinic, there can be slight fluctuation in how many calories should be consumed due to activity level and age, but it is genuinely recommended that a person under the age of 50 should consume 1,800 to 2,400 calories a day.
The Reddit user insisted that doing this allowed them to lose weight significantly and said it helped keep the process simple and focused.
A simulation showcasing how the body behaves without food has shown that without intake (food) the body can quickly start to shed weight and burn through fat for energy.
They added: “For me it is for weight loss. Regardless of what anyone tells you,. Everything is about reducing calories. You don't need an app, special diet plan, etc I am down 35 lbs. Still have 80 to go but it no longer seems impossible. Basically, you just need to reprogram your brain to not use food as reward, pleasure, etc. It is simply a fuel to keep going.”
But before you go and give any old diet a go, it is probably best to speak to a healthcare professional and let them know your goals and intentions.
OMAD is a pretty intense commitment, yet there’s no strong scientific consensus that eating one meal a day leads to better long-term weight control compared to more balanced approaches.