A 7-Day Diet Plan to Shed Pounds
Just in case you need to hear this: You don't need to lose weight. Not to be happy. Not to fall in love. Not to get the job of your dreams. If you want to lose weight to get healthier? Great. Just know that body size isn't the end-all, be-all of determining your health. Feeling good about your body and taking care of your body is the goal — and that can look like a lot of different things.
But if you want to make some healthy changes to your diet or if you want to lose some weight, committing to a healthy eating plan can help. To help you get started, Cheryl Forberg, R.D. and Eliza Savage, R.D., designed this 7-day diet plan for weight loss. With this easy-to-follow plan, you're sure to feel refreshed, healthy, and strong, and lose weight (if you want to!) in no time.
This is not a restrictive meal plan: You'll eat three meals and two snacks daily, plus each dish packs a filling balance of macronutrients with 45 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and 25 percent healthy fats. When it comes to drinks, Forberg recommends sticking to no- and low-cal picks like coffee, tea, and water.
And to accelerate weight loss and build a healthy and strong body, make sure you're getting the recommended amount of physical activity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (that's 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle strengthening activity, FYI).
To really simplify this satisfying menu, here is a shopping list with all of the ingredients you'll need to make every meal and snack on this list.
- Meat and Fish
- Other Protein
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Milk and Dairy
- Condiments and Dressings
- Herbs, Nuts, Butters, Spreads
- Bread and Grains
While many of the meals on this list include meat and fish proteins, these dishes can be easily become vegetarian-friendly with substitutes like tofu, beans, veggie burgers, and other plant-based options.
Replace skim milk with almond, soy, or oat milk if you have lactose intolerance, and stick with hard cheeses like Swiss, Parmesan, and cheddar. Those with gluten sensitivity can replace wheat grains with quinoa or millet, and use gluten-free bread and crackers in place of wheat bread tortillas.
