Diet Plans for Weight Loss

For someone who's never been exposed to good nutrition, it's hard to know where to begin when you're ready to clean up your eating habits to increase your energy and lose a little weight. There are so many diet plans marketed today that it can be overwhelming trying to find the right one for you. However, there are a few fundamentals of dieting that you should look for when selecting a diet plan to follow. This will simplify your selection process and get you started on the road to a healthier life a little faster. One of the key things to consider when selecting a diet plan is the promise of rapid weight loss. If you're considering a plan that guarantees you'll lose 10 pounds in the first week, you might want to reconsider. It's unhealthy and unreasonable to try to lose that much weight that quickly. Additionally, when weight is lost that quickly, it's usually harder to keep it off. Experts agree that healthy weight loss shouldn't exceed more than 2 to 3 pounds per week. More recent studies suggest that healthy weight loss may even be limited to no more than 1 ½ pounds per week. Selecting a lifelong diet plan isn't about losing weight overnight, it's about making gradual changes to your lifestyle and changing your relationship with food.
Another consideration when selecting a diet plan that's sustainable and healthy is restriction of specific foods or food groups. There are many diet plans available that require you to severely restrict your intake of specific food groups. The Atkins Diet is a prime example of this method of dieting. While the Atkins Diet is supposed to be a lifelong diet plan, most people who've tried it find that it's difficult to sustain over time because it requires severe restriction of carbohydrates. Unless you have a medical disorder that dictates avoidance of specific food groups, you should always look for a diet plan that's based on a healthy balance of all food groups. Another diet plan promise that you should be wary of is that you can lose weight and feel great while still eating all of the foods that you love and without exercising. This is usually a promise made by companies selling weight loss pills more than diet plans; however, it's important that you understand that the path to leading a healthier life means you have to limit the amount of "junk food" you eat and you have to exercise. This doesn't mean that you have to abstain from junk food all together, it simply means that you have to make smart food choices. Additionally, no matter what diet plan you choose, you won't achieve optimal weight loss or fitness goals without exercise. If your diet plan suggests otherwise, you should look for assistance somewhere else. These three diet plan tips are basic things that you should look for to ensure that the diet plan you select for your weight loss journey is one that will be healthy, effective and sustainable. Don't be fooled by the hype - you can't lose weight without making lifestyle changes that include exercise and balanced, healthy eating habits.