Practically every weight loss website out there has at least one (or one dozen) 1,200-calorie-a-day diet option. Even the National Institutes of Health has published a 1,200-calorie-a-day meal plan.

To follow a low-calorie diet as safely as possible ... When carefully planned, a 1,200-calorie menu includes sufficient protein to minimize any muscle you might naturally lose on a fast weight-loss ...