It would not be surprising to hear your answer is "yes, I'm confused by all these so called diets." You may read from one expert that low carbohydrate (low carb) and high protein is the way to lose weight. Another will try to convince you that low fat, lots of carbs, fresh fruits and vegetables, is the right way to go. Yet another will try to convince you that you need to count the amount of sugar; or another that main culprit for your being overweight is white flour. So, if you are serious about losing weight, who should you listen to?
The brief summaries below give a quick overview of the pros and cons of each of the popular types of diet plans.
1. Weight Loss Programmes
There are quite a few well known weight loss programmes, for example SlimFast, Jenny Craig, and NutriSystem. These and a number of other weight loss programmes rely heavily on pre-packaged 'diet' foods. However, they incorporate professional coaching into the programme; plus, they also offer some sort of social structure and support to reinforce the diet programme.
Advantages of Weight Loss Programmes
The professional coaching and nutritional benefits of such diet programmes are a big positive factor, as are the reinforcement and support aspect of the diets. Meals and supplements are prepackaged in the right proportions, and if you stick to the diets and exercise as directed you should lose weight.
Disadvantages of Weight Loss Programmes
You will normally have to pay weekly charges for this type of programme, plus the cost of the meals can be expensive. Furthermore, if you rely totally on the packaged foods, you will miss out on your re-education as far as your eating habits go. That could be important to maintaining any weight loss in the long term.
2. Low Carb & Hi Protein Diets
Diets like the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, and the Zone Diet all recommend restricted intake of carbohydrates, but allow liberal amounts of protein, including protein derived from animal sources. Generally, these diets limit the overall amount of carbohydrates, and/or teach you to tell the difference between "good" and "bad" carbohydrates. Bad carbohydrates, which are forbidden, include white flour, white bread, and white sugar. The diets all encourage learning healthy eating as part of losing weight. Deriving most of your daily calories from high fiber sources of carbs like leafy green vegetables and grains is generally considered the best diet for nutrition by the established medical community. The popularity of the diets makes it easy to find low-carb foods.
Advantages Of Low Carb Diets
These low carbohydrate diets do encourage you to learn healthy eating as part of losing weight. That will have long term benefits for you. A diet in which you derive most of your daily calories from high fibre sources of carbohydrates, such as leafy green vegetables and grains, is often recommended by the established medical community for good nutrition. Because these diets are popular, it is easy to find low-carb foods.
Disadvantages Of Low Carb Diets
The allowance for eating all the protein and fats you like does go against conventional medical wisdom. it is thought that a diet high in saturated fats could lead to heart disease, diabetes, gout and other chronic health conditions. These diets are accompanied by cautions and advice, which suggest you keep portions reasonable. Follow that advice and that concern may be allayed somewhat; but if in doubt, consult your doctor.
3. The Real Mayo Clinic Diet
This diet is not the one which has circulated for the past thirty or more years and purported to have originated at the Mayo Clinic! The true Mayo Clinic's nutrition and diet centre recommends a healthy eating weight loss plan that is based on limiting fats, proteins and carbohydrates, counting calories and deriving most of the daily nutrition from vegetables, grains and fruit.
Advantages Of The Real Mayo Clinic Diet
Really, there is no 'diet' as such, in the sense we often use the word when we are talking about losing weight. Instead, you are encouraged to take control of your own eating. By doing so, you aim to achieve portion control, and a sensible balance of nutrients. These are the pillars of a weight loss plan that takes weight off gradually, but then helps you keep your weight down permanently.
Disadvantages Of The Real Mayo Clinic Diet
This may be a difficult diet to maintain. Counting calories and portions can be difficult if you are eating out or on the run living an active and busy life, and often away from home.
There are many diets claiming to take weight off quickly and painlessly, without exercise or changing your eating habits. Most doctors believe the optimum way to lose weight, for long lasting results, is to lose 1-2 pounds of loss per week. The variations of the three major diets above are all capable of helping you do just that.
This diet comparison article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner of the Routes To Self Improvement website.
disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights ..Want to shed that beer belly? Why not try the... Read More
Diet and Exercise. They are the inseparable twins that are... Read More
Q: "I'm wondering if you can help me. I'm not... Read More
According to Veronica Atkins, the widow of Dr. Robert Atkins,... Read More
Considering the US Center for Disease Control's advice is a... Read More
Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose... Read More
Protein is an essential nutrient necessary for maintaining good health.... Read More
According to the American Obesity Association, an astounding 64.5 percent... Read More
Twenty years ago, I did not expect to accomplish what... Read More
Before you try starving yourself or turning to diet drugs... Read More
If you're like me, you probably wish that there was... Read More
Finding the clinic that performs liposuctions in Newport Beach is... Read More
Ephedra has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of... Read More
I am Greg Ryan, a high profile fitness expert with... Read More
Surprisingly, hair loss is one of the reasons female pre-operative... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
If you have been dieting and haven't lost weight, stop!... Read More
For people that are obese, losing weight quickly can seem... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
One common question I receive is, "What do you do... Read More
To see the "low carb" diets on the way out... Read More
Are you sick of the hype? Wondering what diet products... Read More
Losing weight on hips and thighs has always been a... Read More
One of the worst things you can hear in life... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Mundelein ..Get to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
More and more people are starting to recognize that they... Read More
Hannah was distressed that, with all the inner work she... Read More
Some (not so) Silly Diet Tips and Why They're NotAt... Read More
I have had some e-mails come in and everyone is... Read More
In the old West tricksters sold a snake oil to... Read More
Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat.... Read More
In 1994, I had a RNY surgery. At 350 lbs... Read More
At the beginning of December, WeightWatchers.com announced the release of... Read More
Exercise Physiologists who study the effects of exercise on weight... Read More
We all know it's hard to begin losing weight, no... Read More
Did you say there's a way I can eat what... Read More
You've done everything right this time. You're eating lots of... Read More
I am not a diet and fitness guru or an... Read More
Here are the 4 things you need to know about... Read More
We have all set them, and we will revisit them... Read More
Metabolism is essentially the speed at which our body's motor... Read More
A 'diet' is always seen as a temporary measure. An... Read More
Diet PillsTaking diet pills is definitely not an effective weight... Read More
I want to talk about the "all or nothing" outlook... Read More
Families who dine out with their loved ones who've had... Read More
If you have been trying to lose weight permanently, then... Read More
For the person who wants to shed a few pounds... Read More
When you hear a doctor or a personal trainer say,... Read More
Weight Loss |