Is the Oatmeal Diet Safe for Weight Loss?

If you’re trying to lose weight, you might be wondering if the oatmeal diet is a safe option. Are restrictive diets dangerous? Here’s the truth about the oatmeal diet, why it might be safe for some people and not others, and how to make it work for you. Oatmeal, in itself, may or may not be effective in weight loss, but you should know that there are lots of reasons that certain diets aren’t safe — and that the oatmeal diet might fall into that category! ###

What is the oatmeal diet?

The oatmeal diet, or the Clean Eating diet, has become a bit of a buzzword in health and fitness circles over recent years. It’s essentially a form of very-low-calorie eating that focuses on foods high in nutrients but low in calories. For example, while you might not be able to eat pasta or ice cream during an oatmeal diet plan, you can eat lean meats, fish and plenty of fruit and vegetables. This is essentially what makes an oatmeal diet safe for weight loss: by focusing on foods with few calories but lots of vitamins and minerals, you’re filling your body with essential nutrients rather than empty calories.

How can I decide if this diet could work for me?

The oatmeal diet could work for some people. But to determine if it's a good option, you'll want to take a careful look at your health history and dietary preferences. For example, do you have any food allergies or restrictions (for example, gluten-free)? Have you had issues with low blood sugar in the past? Do you prefer cooked meals over smoothies and protein shakes? If so, then we'd encourage you to try it out—as long as your doctor is on board with it. The oatmeal diet isn't a great fit for everyone; just make sure that it will work well with your lifestyle before making any major changes.

The pros of this weight loss plan

Easy to prepare recipes, low carb options and fruit juices that make you feel full without sabotaging your diet. It’s also convenient because oatmeal is packed in a can, so it can be taken anywhere. The cons of using an oatmeal diet: Lack of nutrients, high in carbs, low in protein and high in sugar. Calories are low but not if you drink all those fruit juices or eat more than one serving per day. It's also time-consuming to measure out food servings while trying to figure out how many ounces of each recipe equals one serving (since measuring cups aren't used). A lot of veggies need to be eaten too since most recipes lack vegetables in them.

The cons of this weight loss plan

While oatmeal may be great breakfast food, it’s not very filling, which means you’ll likely be hungry later in the day. If you choose to limit your diet to one meal per day—and skip drinks like coffee and sodas—your body will go into starvation mode by nightfall.

Tips to get started with this diet

Before you adopt any diet, it’s always best to talk with your doctor and make sure it will be a safe option for you. In addition to talking with your doctor, there are several other things you can do to prepare yourself. The oatmeal diet is pretty simple when broken down into three major steps: eat two servings of oatmeal each day; eat between 1,200 and 1,500 calories per day; don’t snack between meals. Here are some tips on how to get started

Reviewing your progress on this diet

While you’re following an oatmeal diet, it’s important to periodically step back and evaluate your progress. And no, we don’t mean weighing yourself every day—we all know that can be wildly inaccurate. Instead, write down what you ate on paper or in a calorie-tracking app (if you use one) and add up how many calories you consumed each day. Did you eat at least three servings of fruits and veggies a day? Did you eat enough oatmeal to meet your daily recommended serving size (1/3 cup)? The more accurately your can answer these questions, and then make adjustments accordingly, the better off you’ll be on this diet plan.

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