The mayo diet taken from a book published by the Mayo Clinic, is a diet based on research and clinical experience. This diet can change habits to be healthier, and overcome the risk of diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep apnea.
Keep in mind that the mayo diet is actually a long-term weight control that takes care of overall health, so it doesn't just determine the food menu. The correct mayo diet that emphasizes changing habits becomes healthier.
The mayo diet consists of two phases, there are:
1. Lose it
The mayo diet starts with an initial phase called Lose It. This phase working for two weeks, with the aim of reducing your weight. In the first two weeks, you will lose weight around 2 - 4.5 kilograms.
At this time, five unhealthy habits are replaced by a healthy lifestyle. For example, unhealthy eating habits such as eating fatty foods, sweet snacks, or eating while watching television, are replaced by eating a healthy breakfast, four servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit per day, choosing whole grains and healthy fats, and exercising regularly.
In the mayo diet, there is a food pyramid which become a nutrition guide. The pyramid places vegetables and fruit as the most consumption, followed by carbohydrate, meat and dairy products, and fat. While for sweet foods, the amount is very limited every day.
The mayo diet also promotes physical activity and exercise. This is intended to help the body burn calories. It starts with a duration of about 5-10 minutes and gradually increases. The recommendation from the mayo diet is exercise with a moderate intensity of about 30 minutes per day.
2. Live it
Two weeks later is the Live it phase. In this phase, you should be more active in developing a sport plan while making food choices, portion sizes, menu planning, and sticking to healthy habits. This phase can also help you maintain your target weight permanently.
What are the rules for mayo diet?
The mayo diet known today is done by limiting salt and carbohydrate intake. But, actually that's not all that must be considered when doing a mayo diet. Diet mayo puts more emphasis on:
- The number of calories which you eat depends on your calorie needs and the purpose of your diet. Ranging from 1200-1800 calories per day, no less than this! It depends on your gender and your initial weight.
- Eat lots of vegetables and fruits so that you are feel full with minimal calories condition. Vegetables and fruit are the basis of this mayo diet.
- Limit salt intake. A little salt intake can increase the water out in the body so you lose weight. You need to know that salt can bind water in the body. You should also avoid foods with hidden salt content, usually in processed foods.
- Limit sugar intake
- Increase protein intake. Protein can also make you feel full after eating so you don't overeat
- Limit fat intake. As you know, too much fat causes weight gain. For that, the mayo diet menu usually contains steamed or boiled food.
Limitation of Number of Calories
There are several levels of calorie on the mayo diet. At the start of the mayo diet, for women weighing under 110 kg, the recommended calorie consume is 1,200 calories per day. Then for a weight of 110-135 kg, 1,400 calories per day is needed, while those who weigh above 140 kg are advised to consume 1,600 calories every day.
For men, the calorie needed is slightly greater. For a weight below 110 kg, the calories needed are around 1,400 calories. Weight between 110-135 kg needs 1,600 calories. Then for more than 135 kg, you will need 1,800 calories per day.
As an illustration, 1,200 calories per day consists of 4 servings of vegetables or more, 3 servings of fruit or more, 4 servings of carbohydrates, 3 servings of protein or dairy products, and 3 servings of fat.
The following is an example from the mayo diet for 1,200 calories:
- Breakfast in the form of one small banana, ¾ cup or about whole grain cereal, and calorie-free drinks.
- Lunch consists of one serving of salad, 1.5 teaspoons of butter, 75 grams of pineapple, 1 piece of whole wheat bread, and a calorie-free drink.
- While the menu for dinner consists of 3 ounces of clams, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, mashed potatoes with a mixture of cauliflower and garlic, 1 cup of beetroot or about 175 grams, and a calorie-free drink.
- For a snack menu, which is two plums and 8 pieces of biscuits made from wheat.
The mayo diet can be done by enjoying various types and amounts of food, provided that it is in accordance with the recommended calorie consumption. This type of diet is suitable for those of you who want to improve their eating habits and unhealthy lifestyles, then replace them with better ones in the long term. Before determining any diet menu, including the choice of mayo diet menu, it is recommended to consult a doctor first. This is especially important if you have certain health conditions.