Weight loss is something we’ve all wanted to achieve at some point in our lives. Whether it’s to get a better figure or to just help shed some unwanted baby fat, it’s something we all thought about, and maybe even tried for a few months.
For most however, it can stay ever elusive, with some giving up on it way before results start appearing. Per statistics, nearly half of American adults attempt to lose weight each year . However, not everyone in that demographic pushes through.
So, what’s the secret? Truth is, there isn’t any. More often than not, it’s simply a matter of dedication, consistency, discipline and choosing the right diet plan that will cater to you and your goals.
But with the , it’s easy to get lost and confused. But we took out all the guesswork for you, and listed down five of the best diet plans you can try. It’s all up to you now.
- Plant-based diets – With veganism and vegetarianism as its most popular options, plant-based diets restrict you from animal products, both for health, ethical and environmental reasons. Besides the obvious weight loss, a plant-based diet also provides other benefits, such as lowering your risk of developing chronic conditions. However, it can restrict you from important nutrients found in animal products.
- Low-fat diets – As one of the most popular diet options today, low-fat diets limit your fat intake to about 30 percent of your daily calorie intake. This makes it highly effective. However, it’s not recommended to restrict too much fat since it can lead to long-term health problems.
- The Mediterranean diet – Originally designed to lower the risk of heart problems, research has also shown it can aid in losing weight. Based in the former eating habits of people from Italy and Greece, this diet advocates eating lots of nuts, vegetables, fruits, tubers, whole grains, seeds, legumes, fish and extra virgin olive oil.
- Intermittent fasting – One of the most popular diet plans today, intermittent fasting refers to the strategy of cycling between periods of eating and fasting. There are various types although all follow the same idea, restrict the time where you’re allowed to eat. It’s also generally safe for adults and studies have shown its efficacy in aiding weight loss.
- The Paleo diet – Based on the theory that most modern diseases are linked to the common Western diet, this plan imitates the eating habits of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. While effective in weight loss, this diet type restricts certain nutrition food groups, including whole grains and dairy.
A study shows that intermittent fasting helps reduce pancreatic fat, which contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes. Pixabay