700-Calorie Diets

Caloric intake reduction and a personal fitness regime is one of the most effective methods of achieving and maintaining weight loss. Recent years have seen a mixture of low-carbohydrate and low-protein programs that can be reasonably effective but calorie control remains the most common form of dieting. For those with 50 pounds or more of weight to lose, intake can be reduced to around 700 calories each day. A number of studies have resulted in several effective dieting brands.

The Cambridge Weight Plan

The Cambridge Weight Plan has superseded the original Cambridge Diet that was originally popular in the 1980s. Branded products are sold by trained consultants living in local areas who are also responsible for assessing the suitability of diet participants. Products consist of soups, meal bars, milkshakes and breakfast porridge. Energy intake can be limited to as little as 415 calories per day. However, most dieters find that the 700- to 900-calorie range is more comfortable for fast and effective weight loss.

The Optifast Diet

The Optifast diet has been specifically designed to promote rapid weight loss for those with significant weight problems and a high body mass index. Participants undergo a series of meetings with a physician to assess suitability before being placed on an all-liquid diet that provides 700 to 800 calories a day. The Optifast diet offers group counseling sessions with a trained psychologist and meetings with a nutritionist to establish good eating habits once solid foods are reintroduced.

The Medifast Diet

The Medifast diet encourages participant to eat smaller meals at more regular intervals using branded products that are nutritionally enriched and designed to be filling and satisfying so hunger can be kept at bay. The diet itself is low in fat and has a low glycemic index, which makes it ideal for diabetics and those with other forms of hypoglycemia. Medifast is listed as one of the top 20,000 companies on the Forbes Index and energy intake on the diet ranges between 700 and 1,000 calories a day. The program has a number of variations available that makes it suitable for nursing mothers, teenagers and senior citizens.

The Soup Diet

The soup diet is a non-branded weight loss idea that is used for short-term results and participants can expect to lose up to 10 pounds in a single week. A soup is made from basic ingredients that include onions, carrots, canned tomatoes, celery and cabbage. At the start of the diet, soups are complemented by fruit and vegetables. As the week goes on, proteins and carbohydrates are added to provide increased balance. Daily intake on the soup diet is approximately 700 calories but the program should never be used for more than seven days at a time.