Find a Weight Loss Diet You Can Live With

In today’s society there are hundreds of different kinds of weight loss diets. Explore the full spectrum of diet options and you may find several that appeal to you. It’s important to find a healthy weight loss diet that includes foods you like in quantities that will satisfy you so that you are not feeling deprived, unhappy or miserable. Remember, you’re looking for a permanent, long-lasting weight loss diet, not a fad diet that you cannot maintain and will ultimately cause the disappointment of yo-yo-ing back to your previous weight, or worse, the crushing heartache of gaining back even more weight than you lost.

Here is a bit of information about some of the most popular weight loss diets.

  • Low-Fat: This weight loss diet was designed for people with high cholesterol which predisposes sufferers to coronary heart disease, among other serious health concerns. This weight loss diet specifically targets fats, primarily in saturated and cholesterol forms. The types of foods to be avoided include whole dairy products, fatty red meats, butter and most oils, egg yolks, cheese and processed meats such as bologna, salami and hot dogs. Some critics feel that those who follow this type of diet do not experience as much weight loss as they would on other types of diets because of the dependence on carbohydrate calories. Limiting fats is helpful for everyone on a weight loss diet – just remember to reach for fruits and vegetables rather than bread.
  • Low-Carb: Some people call this the ‘no white foods’ weight loss diet because the idea is to reduce the amount of carbohydrates in your diet – foods such as flour, potatoes and sugar that are white in color. Carbohydrates are among the foods we over-eat most. Excess or unused carbs are converted to sugar which ends up stored as fat. This type of diet is high in protein so if you love meat, this one may appeal to you. Some critics maintain there is too much emphasis on red meat in particular which can contribute to a host of other health problems including heart disease and some cancers. Low carb eating is an excellent idea for everyone – just be careful not to go ‘hog-wild’ with too much meat.
  • South Beach: Designed as a more moderate alternative to its predecessors the Low-Fat Diet and the Low-Carb Diet, this weight loss diet takes both fat and carbohydrate consumption into consideration allowing the ‘right’ fats and the ‘right’ carbs. One distinguishing aspect of this weight loss diet is the three-phase approach, starting with a restrictive two-week phase to purify the body, followed by a less-restrictive weight loss diet phase which continues until the person has reached their weight loss diet goal, and then the least-restrictive ‘maintenance phase’ for life-long weight control.
  • Mediterranean: This weight loss diet is based on the cuisines of the provincial farmers and fishermen in Southern Italy and Greece, where studies have found a correlation between diet and lower incidence of heart disease and cancer. Emphasis on olive oil is one of the most well-known aspects of this weight loss diet which also allows for some red wine and light cheeses, like feta. Whole grain breads and legumes, primarily lentils, fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, and nuts, along with the generous use of spices other than salt, provide a rich and varied weight loss diet that appeals to many modern gastronomes. Remember that daily exercise is a crucial component to the Mediterranean diet’s success.
  • Points or Exchange: Some of the world’s most heavily promoted weight loss diets fall into this category. Generally the diets are healthy and the food choices are varied. Probably the biggest benefit of this type of weight loss diet is the organization’s social support system – - offered at a monthly subscription price. Foods or meals are allocated a certain number of points and the person following this plan necessarily must keep track of the points they are consuming all day long. It’s a step up from counting calories but many people find it cumbersome to tote around a book to check the point values of foods and a journal to keep track of the points they’ve used.
  • Pre-packaged: Another one of the most intensely marketed weight loss diets, this one often features celebrity endorsement, and relies upon pre-packaged meals and snacks. The idea is to remove the guesswork – but the cost of purchasing prepared and packaged meals can be exorbitant and out of range for many Americans. The biggest downfall is that the person following this type of weight loss diet never really learns about how to choose the right foods and manage their own nutrition for permanent, life-long health and weight maintenance.
  • Low-Glycemic Index (GI): This weight loss diet is geared towards people with diabetes or insulin resistance. The emphasis is to reduce or avoid foods that are easily converted to sugar in the body and to maintain balanced blood sugar levels. This is a very healthy weight loss diet for those who are particularly sensitive to sugars and carbohydrates. Everyone wanting to lose weight could benefit by learning more about the glycemic index of the foods they eat. It may surprise many people to learn that the GI of foods like plain bagels which are commonly perceived as nutritious, can actually cause rapid, unhealthy blood sugar spikes that are downright dangerous for people with insulin sensitivity issues.
  • Vegetarian / Vegan: There is a wide range of vegetarian weight loss diets, some including dairy and eggs, and others not. Staying healthy on a strict vegan diet which is low in protein alternatives can be challenging and is simply too restrictive for many people. But for others, a lacto-ovo vegetarian weight loss diet is an easy shift, because they simply drop meat from their menu and turn to soy-based or texturized vegetable protein products instead, with eggs and dairy as substantial sources of protein. Oftentimes, initial weight loss can be dramatic and accompanied by significant improvements in bowel and digestive functions.
  • Blood type or Genotype: This is a fascinating and complex weight loss diet based on blood type that traces ancient human migratory paths to determine the best diet for each genotype. Six classifications based on blood type (the Hunter, the Gatherer, the Teacher, the Explorer, the Warrior, and the Nomad) determine which foods are helpful for you and which ones undermine your health. Whether you choose to follow this plan or not, the research and history of the human exodus from Africa and subsequent migration throughout the world is a compelling story.
  • Liver Detox: This weight loss diet accentuates wholesome, organic foods that benefit the liver and avoidance of foods that harm the liver. The weight loss diet is moderate and allows for a wide variety of foods with emphasis is on raw fruits and vegetables, reducing carbohydrates and sugars, using healthy oils and drinking lots of water. Juicing of raw fruits and vegetables is strongly encouraged, especially in the early stages of the diet in order to purify the liver.
  • Macrobiotic or Raw: Macrobiotic is a word of Greek origin meaning ‘long life’ and its proponents believe this diet will improve health and lengthen life spans. Consisting primarily of raw fruits and vegetables, locally grown and in season, fermented soy products, miso soup, some raw fish and limited whole grains with no meat, eggs or dairy products permitted, this exotic diet strikes most people as being excessively limiting and monotonous.
  • Super easy & fast weight loss diet protein shake systems: Especially when first starting out on a weight loss diet or for those who are dieting to meet a specific time-sensitive goal, for instance their wedding, high school reunion, beach vacation or other major event where they will feel extra-conscious of their appearance, a protein shake weight loss diet makes a lot of sense. It helps remove much of the guesswork and the hard work of learning to understand nutritional needs, and can help kick-start your weight loss diet with immediate and encouraging results.

 

Read reviews of the top 10 shake systems

 

Next >> Diet supplements combined with lifestyle changes can help you get started on the right track for the best results

 

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