Eating patterns and different diet plans keep getting redefined almost on a regular basis, thanks to new scientific perspectives that affirm or debunk the same. A diet fad that has recently made its debut in the diet plan domain is the OMAD diet. The diet basically endorses the concept that all you really need is a single well-balanced and nutritious meal during the course of a day. It literally translates to One Meal A day. The OMAD diet plan is being promoted as the means to fastrack a weight loss plan. Yes, fasting is sometimes good and even beneficial, but experts harbour some doubts. Most health experts do not advocate diet plans like the OMAD as a viable solution for weight loss. Here is why.
OMAD and its facets
According to the proponents of the latest fasting fad on the scene, OMAD is quite simplistic. All you are allowed is one meal a day in 24 hours. You can however, make some amends for the lack of food by sustaining yourself on black coffee or other low calorie drinks. However, the steadfast rule here is to attain substinence on a single meal. Moreover, another binding rule is that you have to eat the one meal during the course of the same time frame everyday. This time frame cannot exceed four hours. The focus here is on the WHEN and not the WHAT.
The rules of the game
If you are a debutante on the OMAD diet scene, here are the four rules that you must purportedly adhere to. These are the four essential mantras that seemingly aid you in sailing through the weight loss agendas. First, you must eat only one meal a day. This could be breakfast, lunch or even dinner. Second, you must essentially finish your meal within one hour of the four-hour time frame. Third, incredibly enough, the plate you eat off should be 11-inch in diameter. Fourth, the meal on your plate should not be piled higher than three inches. So if you are planning to cheat by eating a mountain of rice, knock it off.
Is the OMAD diet compatible with weight-loss goals?
Well, if you eat just one meal a day that cannout be piled more than 3 inches high and coms off a teeeny weeny plate, the fact that you will soon be a waif is for anyone to guess. However, expert opinion does not endorse it as healthy. In fact, it is not even perceived to be sustainable in the long run. Health experts say that the OMAD diet basically encourages you to starve. Your body could even go into ketosis mode. This is when the body burns fat in the absence of carbs. Moreover, this diet could also lead to a host of other associated complications. These could include muscle loss, fluctuations in mood and hormone imbalances, among others. Yet another point that doesnt bespeak very well for the OMAD is the paucity of vitamins and minerals.
Are you the right candidate for the OMAD diet?
While a healthy person could make a go for this new diet fad, there are certain categories who should stay put. These include pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding, diabetics, those who have dealt with eating disorders and heavy lifters. However, some experts believe that even healthy individuals could be under a degree of risk with the OMAD diet. The key to healthy weight loss is a balanced meal that is combined with a regular exercise regimen.