Popular Diets: Which is Right For You?

Like so many other individuals, you may face a constant struggle to shed pounds and reach a healthy weight. You may have also tried every fad diet known to mankind, only to discover that they either don’t work or that their results don’t last. If you’re ready to finally put a stop to yoyo dieting, take some time to research your various options to find a diet program that will best suit your lifestyle. Take a look at the diets outlined below and see if one of these popular options will provide the results you’re looking for.

HCG Diet

Though the HCG diet is one of the latest fads, it’s actually been around for decades. Individuals who follow the HCG diet are required to eat no more than 500 calories per day. They must also receive daily injections of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone that the body naturally produces during pregnancy. It’s thought that HCG can relieve many of the side effects of low-calorie diets, such as hunger, fatigue, and lightheadedness. HCG is also purported to help dieters shed stubborn inches from their hips, thighs, and abdomen. You should keep in mind, though, that the HCG injections themselves don’t lead to weight loss. Rather, it’s the extremely strict calorie limitations that can cause up to 1.5 pounds of weight loss per day.

Weight Watchers

This weight-loss plan consistently appears on lists for the most popular and most effective diets. The Weight Watchers plan centers on a points system that helps dieters keep track of the foods they’ve eaten. Individuals are assigned a target points value based on their gender, height, and various other factors. Staying within the appropriate points range, keeping well hydrated, and regularly exercising are said to help dieters lose between one and two pounds per week. Along with the points system, Weight Watchers provides a support network in the form of weekly meetings and online message boards where dieters can discuss their progress and share tips and tricks with one another.

Low-Carbohydrate Diets

These plans center on the drastic reduction – or, in some cases, the complete elimination – of carbohydrates from an individual’s diet. This is said to help a dieter maintain low insulin levels, which discourages their body from storing energy (i.e. fat). In turn, the body is said to fuel itself by accessing the fat it’s already stored, supposedly leading to the elimination of excess pounds. Dieters are restricted to a food regimen that consists of high-protein foods (such as meat, eggs, and some non-starchy vegetables), while carbohydrates (including potatoes, bread, rice, and pasta) are off-limits.

Master Cleanse Diet

Also called the lemonade diet, the master cleanse diet has been used by hardcore calorie cutters for more than 50 years. The plan prohibits dieters from consuming any food (yes, you read that correctly). Instead, individuals are instructed to consume six or more servings daily of the “Master Cleanse drink,” which includes specific measurements of lemon juice, grade-B organic maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and filtered water. After consuming nothing but this concoction for up to two weeks, dieters are allowed to slowly reintroduce solid foods.

A Word of Caution

Before you begin any weight-loss program (whether it’s on the above list or not), you should consult your physician. You should also receive clearance from your physician before you begin any exercise regimen because, for some individuals, certain physical activities could actually do more harm than good. Also take caution to use common sense. If you’re following a diet plan that’s causing you to feel overly hungry, exceedingly irritable, and downright miserable, you may want to talk to your doctor about switching to a different plan.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health and wellness.

As a lifestyle expert, Peg Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health and wellness. http://www.healthgrades.com/group-directory/pennsylvania-pa/wayne/laser-spine-institute-9961d422

Author Bio: Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to health and wellness.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: health news

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