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The Mayo Clinic Diet is a flexible, balanced meal plan that focuses on healthy foods and regular exercise. It is split into two phases: Lose It! and Live It!. The first phase is a two-week plan to kick-start the program by reinforcing positive habits, and the second phase encourages implementing these changes to overhaul your lifestyle for the long term. The diet is based on the original Mayo Clinic Diet book, which was first published in 1949 and was most recently updated in 2017. It is a membership-based program that uses a pyramid illustration to guide people on the diet through diet and exercise.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Phases | "Lose It!" and "Live It!" |
Goal | To create habits that are easy to maintain |
Weight Loss | Up to 10 pounds in 2 weeks |
Weight Loss Strategy | Reducing calorie intake by 500-1000 calories per day |
Weight Loss Maintenance | Eating in moderation and following the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid |
Food Choices | Lean proteins, unsaturated fats, sweets in small amounts |
Alcohol Consumption | Not allowed during "Lose It!" phase; limited to 75 calories per day afterwards |
Exercise | At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per day |
Meal Plans | Simple, Healthy Keto, Mediterranean, Superfoods, Protein Balance for GLP-1s |
Tools and Resources | Food tracker, meal plans, grocery lists, at-home exercise plans, virtual group sessions |
Cost | $49.99 per month or $19.99 per month for a year |
What You'll Learn
- The Mayo Clinic Diet is split into two phases: Lose It! and Live It
- It is a flexible diet with lots of food choices
- It is not a one-size-fits-all approach
- It is a whole-health program that focuses on overall health and lifestyle
- It is a balanced meal plan that focuses on healthy foods and regular exercise
The Mayo Clinic Diet is split into two phases: Lose It! and Live It
The Mayo Clinic Diet is a two-phase program that aims to help users make gradual, sustainable changes to their eating habits and lifestyle. It is not a "one-size-fits-all" approach and does not involve any major dietary restrictions.
The first phase, "Lose It!", is designed to kick-start the weight loss process. It lasts for two weeks and focuses on 15 habits, including breaking five unhealthy habits, adopting five new healthy habits, and taking on five bonus healthy habits. During this phase, you are encouraged to avoid eating added sugar, refrain from snacking (except on fruits and vegetables), limit your intake of meat and full-fat dairy, avoid eating while watching TV, and avoid eating out. At the same time, you should develop new habits, such as eating a healthy breakfast, consuming at least four servings of fruits and vegetables per day, choosing whole grains, focusing on healthy fats, and exercising for at least 30 minutes daily.
The second phase, "Live It!", is meant to be followed for life and helps you continue and maintain the healthy habits you developed in the first phase. This phase focuses on eating in moderation and provides a rough guide on serving sizes via the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid. It also offers information on making smart food choices, planning meals, and sticking to an exercise routine. While no foods are cut from your diet in this phase, you are encouraged to limit your intake of sweets to a maximum of 75 calories per day.
The Mayo Clinic Diet is flexible and provides a variety of meal plans, including Simple, Healthy Keto, Mediterranean, Superfoods, and Protein Balance for GLP-1s. It also offers an online support service and digital tools, such as food trackers, meal plans, grocery lists, and at-home exercise plans.
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It is a flexible diet with lots of food choices
The Mayo Clinic Diet is flexible and gives you lots of food choices. It is not a "one-size-fits-all" approach, so you can eat foods you like and even enjoy treats occasionally. The diet gives you lots of food choices within six food groups: lean proteins such as beans and fish; unsaturated fats such as olive oil and nuts; and sweets, in small amounts. You can also eat your favourite foods, like pizza, in moderation.
The diet is flexible in that you can find most of the recommended foods at any grocery store. It also doesn't require you to buy brand-name foods or attend in-person meetings. The diet creators recommend making a list before you shop and scouting the edges of the store, which usually have the healthiest food choices such as fresh produce and dairy.
The Mayo Clinic Diet is also flexible in that it can be adapted for people with diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions with the help of a registered dietitian, physician, or certified diabetes educator.
The diet is split into two phases: "Lose It!" and "Live It!". The first phase includes a two-week "Lose It" plan to kick-start the program in a manageable way by reinforcing positive habits. This phase is more restrictive than the second phase because it's intended to jump-start weight loss and healthier behaviours. For example, during the "Lose It!" phase, you can't eat sugar that doesn't come from fruit naturally, heavily processed foods, or drink alcohol.
The "Live It!" phase, which lasts the rest of your life, encourages you to implement changes to overhaul your lifestyle for the long term. During this phase, no foods are cut from your diet, but instead, the focus is on eating in moderation. It provides a rough guide on serving sizes via the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid, to help you meet your daily calorie goals.
The Mayo Clinic Diet is also flexible in that it offers eight different meal plans, including Simple, Healthy Keto, Mediterranean, Superfoods, and Protein Balance for GLP-1s. Each meal is planned for you, but you can also make your own creations using the food groups system and the Freestyle Guide.
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It is not a one-size-fits-all approach
The Mayo Clinic Diet is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The diet is flexible and gives lots of food choices. It is designed to be adapted to different individuals' needs with the help of a medical professional. For example, if you have diabetes, you may need to limit fruit or select low-sugar options.
The diet is split into two phases: "Lose It!" and "Live It!". The first phase includes a two-week "Lose It" plan to kick-start the program in a manageable way by reinforcing positive habits. This is more restrictive than the second phase, as it is intended to jump-start weight loss and healthier behaviours. For example, during this phase, you cannot eat while watching TV, and you cannot have alcohol.
The second phase, "Live It!", encourages implementing changes to overhaul your lifestyle for the long term. During this phase, you can have a little bit of alcohol: about 75 calories a day, on average. You can also eat your favourite foods, like pizza, just not all of the time.
The diet gives you lots of food choices within six food groups: lean proteins such as beans and fish; unsaturated fats such as olive oil and nuts; and sweets, in small amounts.
The Mayo Clinic Diet is a membership-based program that uses a pyramid illustration to guide people on the diet through diet and exercise. The program includes pre-approved meals and recipes, with a range of diet plans to choose from, such as Mediterranean, keto, vegetarian, and high protein.
The Mayo Clinic Diet is closely aligned with federal recommendations for a balanced diet. This eating plan, especially when combined with regular exercise and nutritious food choices, should be effective for weight management for most followers.
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It is a whole-health program that focuses on overall health and lifestyle
The Mayo Clinic Diet is a whole-health program that focuses on overall health and lifestyle. It is a well-balanced eating plan, branded as a "weight-loss program for life", that takes a long-term approach to weight management. The diet is split into two phases: "Lose It!" and "Live It!". The first phase includes a two-week "Lose It" plan to kick-start the program in a manageable way by reinforcing positive habits. This is followed by the "Live It!" phase, which encourages implementing these changes to overhaul your lifestyle for the long term.
The diet focuses on eating nutritious foods that are filling, with unlimited vegetables and fruits on the menu. It utilizes a tier program, suggesting eating the majority of foods from the base and reducing your intake as you move towards the top tier. The base tier includes fruits and vegetables, the second tier whole grain carbohydrates, the third tier lean protein, and the fourth tier healthy fats. Sweets are not off-limits but should fit into your daily calorie intake.
The program also includes an exercise component, recommending at least 30 minutes of daily activity. It also provides access to educational content, virtual group sessions, a digital platform with a food tracker and other tools, and practical at-home, equipment-free workouts.
The Mayo Clinic Diet is flexible and gives you lots of food choices. It is not a "one-size-fits-all approach", so you should be able to eat foods you like and even enjoy treats once in a while. It is also relatively inexpensive to follow, with no meetings to attend or brand-name foods to buy. However, there is an online support service that you can join for a fee.
The diet is based on what the medical community believes: that a balanced, healthy diet can lead to weight loss and help prevent disease. It emphasizes balanced eating and also encourages movement, which is key to being in the best shape you can be.
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It is a balanced meal plan that focuses on healthy foods and regular exercise
The Mayo Clinic Diet is a balanced meal plan that focuses on healthy foods and regular exercise. It is a well-balanced eating plan, branded as a "weight-loss program for life," that takes a long-term approach to weight management. The diet is split into two phases: "Lose It!" and "Live It!". The first phase includes a two-week "Lose It" plan to kick-start the program in a manageable way by reinforcing positive habits. This is followed by the "Live It!" phase, which encourages implementing these changes to overhaul your lifestyle for the long term.
The diet is centred around the five-tier Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid, where each tier promotes the consumption of nutrient-dense food choices designed to leave you feeling full and satisfied. The base tier includes fruits and vegetables, the second tier includes whole-grain carbohydrates, the third tier includes lean protein, the fourth tier includes healthy fats, and the fifth tier includes sweets, which should fit into your daily calorie intake.
The key facets of the diet include choosing nutritious foods and increasing physical activity. The diet recommends at least 30 minutes of daily activity, which can be brisk walking or working in the yard, for example. The diet also provides tips on breaking old, unhealthy habits, such as eating while watching TV, and forming new, healthy ones, such as exercising.
The Mayo Clinic Diet is flexible and gives you lots of food choices. It is not a "one-size-fits-all" approach, so you should be able to eat foods you like and even enjoy a treat once in a while. The diet is similar to other nutritious eating patterns that emphasize lifelong strategies for eating and follow many of the federal dietary guidelines set forth in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mayo Clinic Diet Plan is a well-balanced eating plan, branded as a "weight-loss program for life". It is split into two phases: "Lose It!" and "Live It!". The first phase includes a two-week plan to kick-start the program by reinforcing positive habits, and the second phase encourages implementing these changes to overhaul your lifestyle for the long term.
The first phase, "Lose It!", is designed to help you lose 6 to 10 pounds and focuses on 15 habits, calling for you to add five healthy habits, break five unhealthy ones, and adopt five bonus healthy habits. The second phase, "Live It!", helps you continue and maintain the healthy habits.
The diet gives you lots of food choices within six food groups: lean proteins such as beans and fish; unsaturated fats such as olive oil and nuts; and sweets, in small amounts. You can also eat your favourite foods, like pizza, in moderation.
The Mayo Clinic Diet Plan is flexible and gives you lots of food choices. It is based on what the medical community believes: that a balanced, healthy diet can lead to weight loss and help prevent disease. It is also inexpensive to follow, as there are no meetings to attend or brand-name foods that you must buy.