As a personal trainer I am constantly inundated with questions about dieting and losing weight. When you begin to look at these topics,
and specifically at dieting, one thing quickly comes to light. There are so many diet plans out there that wading through them all (and choosing one that works) can be extremely difficult. With that, let’s first cover what a good diet plan is and what it is not.
First, a diet plan alone is NOT the only thing you need to stay in good health. It may be able to help you take some weight off, but you should add in a daily exercise plan to be sure you keep that weight off.
Second, NOT everyone needs a diet plan. For those who just need to shed a pound or two, exercise is the better way to take it off.
Third, a good diet plan IS an excellent way to lose weight. In fact, if you choose the right diet plan you may be able to finally get the figure that you want.. The best diet plans will help you to lose weight and stay healthy at the same time. The better plans will also teach you how to keep that weight off and not just lose a few pounds in the short term.
Fourth, if you don’t choose the right diet it could seriously affect your health. Too many of the latest fad diets are actually dangerous, and some of them are so dangerous that they may land you in a hospital. A good diet plan should never negatively affect your health.
To help you out, I along with some people who wanted to lose some weight (my clients), took the time to evaluate the top diet plans on the market today. I based my evaluations on the following criteria.
Weight Loss – Obviously the main goal of any diet plan is to lose weight.
Health Factor / Safety – Did the diet plan allow you to stay healthy while you worked to lose weight. Really, some fad diets are downright dangerous so safety is a concern when choosing a plan.
Ease of Use (Simplicity) – Was it easy to learn how to cook foods for the diet plan? A good diet plan shouldn’t require you to become a chef.
Long Term Weight Loss – Did the program teach you how to keep the weight off in the longer term.
Value for your Money – Programs that teach you how to lose weight cost money. Did the plan give enough content for the cost of the package itself?
Motivation Factor – A good program should motivate you to use it, and not just teach you how to cook for your new diet.
Enjoyment Factor – Was the diet plan enjoyable? Most diets fail because everything they suggest for you to eat tastes like cardboard. Higher ratings were given to diet plans that suggested food that is both tasty and healthy.