There are many reasons to want to lose weight. Perhaps you need to for health reasons or perhaps you just want to in order to feel lighter. It can be challenging to know what type of diet is best for you, or if you even should go on a diet at all. After all, the last thing that you want to do is to fall into disordered eating habits or to end up gaining back all the weight you lost.
There are a lot of factors that go into selecting the type of diet that can work for you. Everyone’s body, lifestyle, and preferences are different, so a diet that works well for someone else may be terrible for you. Here’s what you need to know about some of the factors involved in selecting the type of diet that is best for you.
#1. Can You Stick With It?
Have you ever heard the phrase that, “It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change”? Experts agree that the best type of diet is one that you can stick with. If you go on a diet that you hate, it’s going to be very hard to stick with it. If you can’t stick with your diet, then it’s highly likely that the weight you lose on it will come right back.
You’ll want to select a diet that suits your lifestyle and matches the way that you like to eat and exercise. If a diet is very strict but you lead a very busy lifestyle, you might not be able to follow it. You’d likely need to pick one that is more flexible.
Some diets can help people lose weight, and then after they lose the weight, they switch back to a diet that is focused on weight maintenance rather than weight loss. With medical supervision, this can work, but you wouldn’t want to try this on your own.
When it comes to weight loss, it’s always best to consult with your doctor in order to determine what is realistic for your goals and needs. That way, you’re more likely to find a diet that you can stick with.
#2. Does It Fulfill Your Nutritional Needs?
There are many different types of diets out there, from liquid diets to keto to paleo and more. It can be difficult to know which ones are actually healthy and which ones just claim to be.
This is why it’s so important to work with a medical professional when it comes to weight loss plans. For instance, in general, you want to avoid diets that eliminate entire food groups, like carbs.
This is because your body needs each food group in order to function properly. Healthy diets tend to be ones that are well-rounded, flexible, and that allow you to have treats in moderation. Diets that account for small, gradual changes make it easier to change your eating habits and stick with those changes in the long run.
However, in other cases, it may be medically advisable for you to go on a diet that cuts out a food group for a period of time. One example of a case like this is when people go on elimination diets in order to determine if they have any food sensitivities.
#3. Does It Allow You To Have Foods You Enjoy?
You know that claim that 95% of people fail their diets? It’s actually vice versa. 95% of diets fail people by not seeing to their needs and not being sustainable. Many diets don’t have enough calories to sustain your body and can cause health problems by causing you to not get enough nutrients.
The more weight that you want to lose, the more of your lifestyle you need to change. As such, the type of diet you choose needs to be best for you. If the type of diet you go on doesn’t allow you to have foods you like, it isn’t best for you. Of course, a diet that consists of mostly fast food isn’t good for you. But you shouldn’t feel guilty about having some fast food every once in a while.
For sustainable weight loss and to be able to keep the weight off in the long run, it should include portions of your favorite foods in beverages and allow foods from all food groups. After all, food is more than fuel. Food is comfort, connection, and an important part of cultures all over the world.
Of course, there can be exceptions to this, depending on your medical needs. Talk to your doctor to see if you need a special type of diet for some time or not. For instance, if you are suffering from kidney failure, your doctors can recommend that you stay away from protein.
#4. Is It Based On Science?
Now, we don’t mean a handful of studies. We mean a large body of scientific research with good sample sizes and conducted over an extended period of time.
Diets should be based on how biology works. They’re built on helping people live a healthy lifestyle that they enjoy. They shouldn’t be overly restrictive and should be nutritionally sound. The type of diet that is best for you won’t leave you feeling hungry, as that can cause you to revert back to bad habits and regain the weight you lost.
There are many diets out there where there simply isn’t enough scientific evidence to show whether or not they actually provide the benefits that they claim to. As mentioned before, you want to talk to your doctor about the type of diet you should try in order to find with one is best for you.
Do You Need Help Finding The Type Of Diet That Is Best For You?
Regeneration Health is here to help! We provide medical weight loss programs that help people lose weight in a medically supervised manner for optimal results. We can help you formulate a customized nutritional plan to suit your needs. We can also guide you through intermittent fasting and keto diets. In addition, we offer lipotropic injections to promote weight loss.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find the right type of diet for you!
