How to Pick a Diet Program

With hundreds of diet programs and weight loss strategies available, how do you find the right match? Here's everything you need to know to pick a diet program that will help you reach your weight loss goals.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Diet books
• Recipes
• Calculator
• Motivation to make a positive change

1. Visit the doctor or physician for a checkup. You'll need to make sure you're healthy enough to undertake a diet, and determine if you even need to lose weight in the first place. A checkup will also help you learn about any underlying health conditions you need to be aware of.

2. Define your length of commitment. Decide how long you want to stick with your diet program so you can narrow down your options. Skip the fad diets that promise results in 30 days or 6 weeks and focus on long-term programs that you can grow with.

3. Identify your biggest vice. Is it a sweet tooth that's ruining your health? You'll need a natural foods based diet to help with blood sugar levels. Are you eating too much meat? You'll need to choose a diet plan that includes a variety of lean meat options so you don't feel deprived.

4. Calculate your daily calorie requirements. Don't pick a too-restrictive diet that leaves you starving because you're not eating enough calories. Your daily calorie requirements are between 10 to 13 times your body weight, and generally around the lower end of the range for substantial weight loss.

5. Consider how many supplements or pills you're willing to take. From protein powders to metabolic-enhancing pills, consider the risks involved with each. Any diet program that requires an extensive amount of artificial foods and supplements can become expensive, and some can lead to a number of health problems.

6. Think of ways you can incorporate the diet into your lifestyle. Lifestyle changes are much more important than a quick fix, and you'll be able to keep the weight off for longer periods of time with a diet that allows you to enjoy foods you actually like. Choose a diet program that already contains smaller portions or modifications of your favorite foods.

7. Make sure the diet contains healthy fats and protein. You need these nutrients to stay healthy, and extreme low-fat diets and weight loss programs that eliminate important foods can sabotage your health.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep up with a regular exercise routine to optimize your health as you start to eat more healthy foods.
• Adjust the diet to suit your tastes when needed.
• Keep track of your food with a journal or food log so you can look back on your progress.
• Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day to avoid dehydration.
• Avoid diets that eliminate entire food groups. These can become very difficult to manage, and you may end up with more 'off days' than diet days.