So, you’ve made up your mind to lose those extra pounds and you are committed to doing so. But, now you are entangled in the vast web of diet plans and don’t know which diet to follow and which one is a big no for you. Aiming for weight loss is one thing and getting there is another. Due to several diet options available online, people often get confused and end up choosing a diet that simply does not work for them. So, how to know which diet is best for you?
What diet plan is best for me? How to decide?
Before stepping into any diet plan, you first need to look at what features it offers and should ask yourself some important questions, and their answers will determine the best diet plan for you.
1. What are my fitness goals?
A quick reply to this question in your mind would be,” Weight loss, obviously.” But, weight loss can also have many reasons behind it. Some people want to lose weight to get slim and improve their looks while some people are determined to lose weight due to medical conditions. Whatever is your reason, you need to clearly state it in your mind. For people with medical issues, a diet plan might have to be tailored specially to minimize the risk of health problems.
2. Is this diet flexible enough to adjust to my needs?
It is the most important question. People think a diet plan has to be strict, otherwise, it’s not effective. That’s not true. If a diet plan won’t be flexible enough to suit your plans and schedule, you are most likely to fall out of it. That’s why, before selecting any diet plan, look at its food options and physical activity routine and make a checklist in your mind if you can manage to eat that food and can you do all that workout in a specific time or not. This will help you find the level of suitability of diet with your needs.
3. Is it a balanced diet?
If you look up the diet plans, you’ll mostly find restrictive diets which need you to eat from a specific food group for a time being. For example, some diets will recommend you to eat meat or broccoli only for a month or more. It’s not a healthy choice at all. To nourish our body with enough nutrients for its survival and functioning, it’s necessary to look out for balanced diet plans. A balanced diet plan will include a balanced amount of carbs, fats, protein, and sweets as well.
4. Does this diet include my favorite foods?
So you might have the misunderstanding that diet is all about cutting back on your favorite foods. Well, in our opinion, it won’t be a wise choice. If you won’t eat your favorite food or snack for a long long time, there is a high chance that you’ll end up eating a lot of it after a certain time. To control these cravings and have your favorite snacks in healthy amounts, it’s necessary that you choose a diet plan which has a window to adjust your favorite foods.
5. Does this plan include physical activity?
Dieting without physical activity is useless. Physical activity does not mean a heavy workout routine, but moving here and there and ditching the sedentary lifestyle is also counted as physical activity. A good diet plan is one that requires you to exercise on a regular basis, even for 10 minutes only. Also, you need to look out for a plan of which physical activity suits your stamina. If you are a beginner and cannot perform certain workouts you might want to look for the alternatives that’ll work best with your diet routine.
6. Can I stick to it for a long time?
Looking for the sustainability of the diet cannot be emphasized enough. After looking at the details of the diet plan, you need to ask yourself if this is something you can follow for a long time? Because if a diet plan has certain requirements that you cannot meet, you won’t be able to enjoy its benefits and will get bored of it in no time.
7. Is it affordable?
Let’s face this, diet plans are usually quite expensive. Especially the diet plans which require you to eat certain food items of certain brands. They might be high in nutritional value but will leave a big dent in your wallet. That’s why, it’s necessary to look out for the diet plans which enlist basic food items, that are easily available and are easy on the pocket as well. However, if you think you can follow an expensive diet, you can always do so.
8. How quickly will it help me achieve my goals?
Humans love numbers and a set timeline can help them achieve their goals sooner. That’s why, before picking a diet plan, always look out for its prospective timeline, after which you’ll be able to see results in your weight loss journey.
9. Does it require me to take any supplements or medications?
Some diets, while restricting you to specific food items, suggest taking supplements to fill the gap of other essential nutrients. Some diets also recommend medications that might boost up your metabolism or can help in fat burning. But, these are not sustainable or recommended options. There isn’t any nutrient that cannot be taken up via natural foods, so it’s better to stick to natural foods and avoid supplements and medications.
10. Is it risky?
Yes, diet plans can be risky as well. That’s why you need to calculate the risk before trying any diet plan, especially if you are suffering from any medical condition. There might be some essential nutrients that you cannot cut back on due to your condition or a certain amount of calories might be necessary for your proper functioning and survival. So, it’s better to self-assess or ask your physician about the risk of a certain diet plan, before you make it a part of your life.
What should be the qualities of an ideal diet plan?
According to diet experts’ opinions, an ideal diet plan includes the following features:
- It should include some physical activity
- It includes foods from all nutritional groups
- It is a sustainable and steady diet plan
- It allows small snacks in between meals
- It recommends drinking a lot of water
A secret tip for weight loss
Some secrets are meant to be shared and this is one of such secrets. The weight loss journey isn’t something that can be covered overnight or with a specific diet plan only. It requires you to incorporate long-term and effective changes to your eating habits and daily physical activity. That’s why the only way to fit a lifestyle is by eating healthy, not necessarily a diet plan can only do this. The best diet plan is the one that you can stick to.
Conclusion
Choosing a diet best for yourself can be a daunting task and can often mislead you as well. That’s why this decision has to be made keeping in mind the fitness goals and the requirements of your body. Only balanced diet plans that offer healthy eating options while combining them with physical activity should be followed for the weight loss journey. In the end, it’s your body, and what suits you and keeps you healthy should be the priority.
I look up to fitness as a lifestyle and love to pen down about it. I have 2 years of experience in content writing and I am here to share my research and knowledge on health and fitness.
