There are a Variety of Diets To Chose From When Losing Weight is Your Goal

April 29, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Diets

Every time you turn around there is another diet in the news. There are a variety of different diet plans in the weight loss market today. When you are looking for a diet, it can get confusing trying to keep all of these diets straight and to pick the right one for you. Ask your doctor or dietician to help you decide which type of diet is proper for your health, your age and your activity level.

The fixed menu diet:

The fixed menu diet is one in which you will know exactly what you will eat over a period of time. A fixed menu diet makes shopping easy. This type of diet unfortunately does not teach the dieter to chose food for him or herself instead all the dieter has to do is follow the diet designed by the plan.

The exchange diet:

The exchange diet is when you are able to choose your food from arranged groups, which gives the dieter variety and avoids boredom or not liking the food. An exchange diet makes it easier to eat out or when on vacation. You will also learn how to make healthy food choices for yourself when on the exchange diet.

Prepackaged meal diets:

When you join a diet program that has prepackaged foods such as NutriSystem, you buy foods that are already in the proper portion sizes. The downside is that you have very little choice in what you eat, and the programs are usually expensive. You also are not able to learn how to make healthy food choices yourself.

Formula Diet:

The formula diet is also called the Drink Diet in which you drink your breakfast, lunch, or dinner or one or more of the meals or snacks during the day. The liquid diet shakes or beverages are usually filled with proteins, and carbohydrates and have very little fat. This type of diet is very convenient but usually not very satisfying and often leaves dieters hungry. Usually these diets are economical and easily found in grocery stores. These diets usually work for short-term weight loss goals but rarely for long-term goals because soon the dieter gets tired of drinking meals and snacks instead of eating real food. When the formula diet is over, the weight usually comes back on when the individual goes back to old eating habits because they have not learned how to eat healthier.

Fad Diets:

These diets are usually local diets or diets that are used by celebrities and are typically a combination of certain foods and have the goal of losing weight fast. These diets often lack valuable nutrients and are thus harmful for your body and your health. They are not good for long-term weight loss.

The low-fat or low-calorie diet:

These diets are inflexible. The dieter is told about portion sizes and what type of food he or she can or cannot eat. Sometimes these programs cut out the fat, but the individuals and up eating more sugars and gaining weight despite being on a diet.