Which Diet Plan is Best for Me?
Introduction to Diet Plans
With trendy diet plans on the rise, it’s easy to get caught up with the trends and start trying out many different meal plans before you find the right one, which usually isn’t a trendy diet.
So what is the best diet?
There is no single Diet Plan that works for everyone. The best diet you should try is one that you can stick to for the long-term. It's a weight loss plan that fits your lifestyle and is easy for you to stick with.
So how do you sort through the marketing claims for hundreds of diets to find a weight loss plan that works?
Start by asking yourself these five critical questions. The answers will reveal the diet plan that is most likely to work for you.
What's my budget
Before you begin shopping for the best weight loss plan, decide if you have money to invest and how much you want to spend.
Then, based on that information, evaluate the diet plans that look most interesting to you and decide if they fit your budget. Be sure to evaluate all costs that might be involved.
This includes the cost of food, support services, reference materials, and/or exercise classes. Also, factor in the amount of time you'll need to be on the plan to get to your preferred weight. Keep in mind that the cost of a diet program is not necessarily a predictor of the plan's success. Just because you pay more to lose weight doesn't mean that more weight will necessarily be lost.
However, there is evidence that suggests commercial weight loss plans are more successful than trying to lose weight on your own.
Research in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that dieters who followed a structured commercial plan lost more weight than those who followed a self-thought out plan (obviously). But if you don't have money to spend on a commercial diet, there’s no need to worry.
There are great online articles and blog posts that are free for you to read, heck, if you’re reading this you’re definitely in the right spot at MyDietGoal we want to offer as much information as possible when it comes to muscle building and weight loss.
Apps, online workouts, and virtual coaching services are perfect if you are a do-it-yourself type of person who prefers a more independent approach. These options give you the tools you need to create your own weight loss program at home or on the go.
Do I have underlying health issues?
Although there are some health issues that actually get resolved with proper nutrition and dieting, you should still contact your healthcare professional who can help determine which health issues should be reviewed when choosing the best weight loss diet, and unlike other weight loss programs, at MyDietGoal we ask you for this information and work with you, and around your health issues to provide the best quality service.
People with diabetes, for example, have specific nutritional needs that may limit the types of diets they can choose.
People with high blood pressure are great candidates for the DASH program, which helps limit salt consumption. Patients who are diagnosed with arthritis may be more comfortable with plans that do not involve as much weight-bearing exercise.
Does my schedule allow for food preparation?
One of the reasons that many weight loss diets fail is that busy schedules get in the way of good eating habits.
Let's face it, it's hard to pass by a fast-food restaurant after working a 10-hour day. But if you know that a healthy meal is waiting at home, making a good choice might be easier. You may start to think by avoiding fast-food you’re punishing yourself, but you get to a point in your diet that when you begin to feel like fast-food is the punishment.
Think about how much time you have for grocery shopping and food preparation.
Be realistic.
Do I Have Social Support?
An important part of a successful Weight Loss Program is social support. A supportive Spouse, a neighbor or friend going through a similar diet, or a community group can help provide the emotional support you need through your dieting journey. You can learn how to get social support from friends or family, or your local community.
Some gyms, neighborhood community centers, senior citizen groups, and hospitals offer weight loss support services. You could also look for a program at your religious center.
A study by the University of Illinois, Department of Medicine, found that adding a religious component to the weight loss programs of some women improved their results.
If the people around you aren't available, find a commercial plan that includes a social component. Opinions, Recipe Exchanges, and Group Meetings provide excellent opportunities to connect with others who are trying to lose weight.
What Diet Plans have I tried in the past, and why did they fail?
Evaluate your history of attempting Weight Loss Diets and make a list of the reasons that past diets have been unsuccessful.
Did I follow the Diet Plan correctly?
Were the food choices too restrictive?
Did you always feel hungry?
Did you lose motivation and if so, why?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these, you should consider choosing a diet plan that teaches good portion control tips rather than specific food restrictions. For example, intermittent fasting allows you to eat during specific hours of the day, for a 6-8 hours window while fasting for the remainder of the day for weight loss.
The Atkins Diet, on the other hand, restricts consumption of most carbohydrates. The best diet might be one that allows for greater food intake but emphasizes consumption of low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables, essential lean protein, and dairy.
You have to try many different diets before figuring out which one works best for you.
You could also choose a diet plan that includes accountability to a friend, a support group or to a weight loss professional. This may help you to learn motivational skills that will keep your diet on track.
The Right Diet Is the One That Keeps You Healthy, Happy, and On-Track In the process of choosing the best diet for you, try to ignore the claims and advertisements, and especially celebrity endorsements. Focus on your own physical, emotional, and lifestyle considerations to find a plan that helps you reach your weight loss goal.
Final Key Points
A weight loss plan only works if you stay with it. And as any successful dieter can tell you, it's much easier to lose weight and firm up when the diet plan you choose fits your lifestyle and personality.
Do you hate cooking for yourself? You won't last long on a diet plan since making your own meals is 75% of the effort.
Also, if you're living with children you're constantly surrounded by unhealthy snacks, you'll need a weight loss plan that can solve this the snacking problem head-on.
With any endeavor to lose weight, most women think they need to go on a diet, says Lisa Sanders, MD, a clinician-educator in primary care at Yale University and author of The Perfect Fit Diet.
A diet is simply what you eat, which means you're already on one. There is a bad stigma around the terms “Weight Loss“ and “Diet Plans”.
A diet either works for you so you achieve and maintain the weight you want, or it doesn't.
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