The best diet to lose weight is going to be a diet that you can incorporate into your life as a lifestyle change, and not something that is just temporary.  There are many programs out there and some are really good, and some, not so much.  There have been numerous fad diets over the years and they are either completely ludicrous or simply just silly.  You want to look for a diet that has meals throughout the day, as well as snacks.

Here is one of my favorite quotes:
“Almost all diets work if you STAY on them. The key is to build habits that allow you to stick. Focus on building positive habits rather than thinking about the negatives. The trick is to look into the future and say, ‘I am going to fall off my diet ten times, and each time I fall of it I am going to become more determined to do it even more.” – Dr. Richard Bandler

Some programs will be very strict throughout the week, and then have a cheat day one day of the week.  Other programs allow some of those additional snacks or desserts on a regular basis, but only allow for a certain amount of calories in a day.

Whether you are the kind of person that likes to count calories, or if you are the kind of person that needs to have a full menu planned out on a daily basis, there is a plan out there that is just right for you.

  • Counting Calories

For a “counting calories” diet, you could simply do this yourself using free tools available to you on the internet.  For example, one of my favorites is www.fitday.com.  It allows you to enter the foods you have eaten throughout the day and break down those foods into calories, carbs and protein, etc.  It will give you a pie chart showing what percentage of your meals are in each category.  Fitday also provides a workout log , activity log, a journal and several other helpful tools to keep you on track and focused on your weight loss goals.

Another plan that is all about “counting” is Weight Watchers.  Weight Watchers is for men and women both, and although you don’t count the calories directly, you do count Points©.  Every food is assigned a point value, and as long as you stay within your allotted number of points for that day on a daily basis, then you will lose weight because the program is designed to show a deficit in calories in to calories out.

After all, weight loss is all about burning more calories than you consume.  The concept is really that simple!

  • Diets With Set Menus and Fitness Programs

There are two diets that I like that are effective and easy to follow.  Even with a program that gives you menus for every day and everything is set up for you, sometimes we just don’t like a meal or can’t have a certain ingredient because of allergies and such.  That’s why the two programs I’m going to talk about now are so great because you can actually swap out meals and still be able to follow the program.

The first one I want to tell you about is The Biggest Loser Club plan.  This plan is done online from your own home and computer.  You get a full meal plan and recipes.  You get daily encouraging notes from Bob Harper, one of the amazing trainers on the show, The Biggest Loser.  There are thousands of meals to choose from, or you can simply follow the plan as given to you every day.  The recipes in this plan are completely family friendly.  They are something the whole family can enjoy.  Once of my favorite recipes on the Biggest Loser plan would be the sweet and sour chicken.  It’s very healthy, and SO good!

The workout schedule for the Biggest Loser is great because it allows you to start at a level you can  handle and just progress further into it as you go along.  You get to pick the days you want to do your cardio and your strength training.  The workouts don’t take all day, they are truly reasonable on time since we all know how busy we are.

The other diet plan I like is the one offered by Jillian Michaels.  Now, Jillian was a trainer on The Biggest Loser show for 10 seasons, but she has decided to move onto a different chapter in her life and career.  However, she has always offered her own program along-side the Biggest Loser.  It is also an online program which includes detailed meal plans, specific workout routines, as well as online coaching and public forums.  What makes Jillian’s program unique is the opportunity to purchase personal one-on-one coaching.  This could truly be the one added push that you need to make it to your goal.

Whether you are the type of person to count calories or need a menu given to you every day to stay on track, there are several noteworthy plan to choose from.  Make sure the plan you pick is something that you can stick with and something that incorporates lifstyle changes so that it’s not just a temporary thing.

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