Whether it is your New Year’s resolution or some newfound motivation, going on a diet is something that everyone thinks about at least once. Unfortunately, there are so many diets to choose from.
Ultimately, the best diet for you is one that promotes healthy eating, exercise, and you can actually follow it. While that advice is accurate, it’s a bit vague.
This is why we have curated a list of five tips that you can use to find the best diet for you so you can start your weight loss journey correctly.
You Are Able To Keep It Up
The first thing you need to ask yourself when looking for a diet is if you can do it, rather than if you should do it. It is pointless starting a diet unless you believe it is sustainable. The key to losing weight isn’t to do it quickly, but to take your time and keep it up.
You also need to decide if you want a structured plan or a flexible one. This can vary on your self-control or eating habits.
One of the main mistakes people make is they focus too much on losing weight, and not enough on what is causing weight gain. Some diet books such as the Beyond Body book outline how to tackle the root cause of weight gain
Make Sure It Is Safe For You
All the best diets are backed by scientific evidence. If there is no scientific reason for a diet then it may do more harm than good.
Not only does your diet have to have evidence behind it, but it also needs to work for you. Make sure you talk to your health care provider about anything that may affect your diet plan. This could include allergies, medication side effects, and any exercise limitations you may have.
Avoid Fad Diets
These are sometimes known as crash diets because of their all-or-nothing nature. Fad diets may help you to lose weight quickly, but that is not healthy in the long run. Losing weight too quickly can cause dizziness, muscle loss, and headaches.
Fad diets also have the added effect of causing yo-yo weight loss. This is where you lose weight, but gain it all back just as quickly. This is because these diets aren’t sustainable in the long run.
Some fad diets also rely heavily on supplements. While some people need to take them for medical reasons, if a diet requires them it means it isn’t providing the necessary nutrients you need. Supplements should be used in addition to a healthy diet, not in place of one.
It Suits Your Lifestyle
You need to make sure your diet of choice can fit your budget. Some diets require all organic food and specific grains, which can get expensive if your food budget doesn’t typically cover them. Some advice to combat this is to buy what you can in bulk. While it is a larger upfront cost, it does save you money in the long run.
Next, your diet needs to match the ways you like to eat. If a diet calls for 5 meals in a day and you are only used to 2, then that diet isn’t for you. The diet also needs to align with your exercise level, you may need to build up your stamina before following a full exercise routine.
Most diets require food preparation, you need to make sure your lifestyle can include this. Some people just don’t have the time to prepare food every day so it needs to be a factor that is considered.
Includes The Best Foods For You
Diets don’t have to be just sad boring meals. You want a diet that includes a variety of foods, including your favorites.
You want a diet that is designed to fill you up so you snack less, and helps you to portion your meals.
Any good diet will also emphasize the importance of drinking plenty of water. If a diet doesn’t mention it you may need to look elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
We recommend monitoring your progress. Not only will you be able to set your goals, but it will also help you stay motivated to see how far along you have come.
Remember, what diet works best for others may not work for you. While it may take some trial and error, with enough patience and perseverance you will soon be seeing the results you want.