Best Diet For Weight Loss

by Chrissy Slavey
(Kentucky)

QUESTION: I am wanting to lose 20 pound by June of this year. I was wondering if you had suggestions on a good diet that I could go on. What is the best diet for weight loss? I am really wanting to do this, but I need a little guidance and some encouragement. I have tried dieting before but failed. I do not want to fail this time.

ANSWER: Chrissy: If you lost a pound a week between now and the end of June, you would reach your goal. Losing 1-2 pounds a week is the healthy way to do it. You can do that.

There are a number of ways you can go about reaching your goal.

The first question you need to ask when evaluating any diet is, can I eat this way the rest of my life? The best diet for weight loss results in you adapting healthy eating habits that you can continue forever. Many diets use extreme measures and eating choices that may work temporarily, but are not a way of eating that you can use for any extended period. As soon as you go off the "diet" you regain the weight.

There are many ways you can go. I recommend the Abs Diet for Women (or Men) by David Zinczenko for many of my clients. Weight Watchers is another plan that works for a lot of people. Just counting calories and limiting yourself to 1200-1400 calories a day can be effective.

Here are the principles of effective dieting no matter what specific plan you're using:

* Eat 4-5 small to medium meals/snacks a day, evenly spaced throughout the day. Avoid going long periods without eating.

* Limit carb intake, especially white refined carbs: white bread, pasta, potatoes, white rice, etc.

* Avoid refined foods, saturated fats, trans fat, sugar, and high fructose corn syrup.

* Focus on high fiber (fruits/vegetables), high protein foods as the basis of your diet. Try to include some lean protein with every meal/snack. Poultry, fish, lean cuts of beef, egg whites, whey protein powder, soy, and low fat dairy products are all good sources of lean protein.

* Allow yourself one cheat meal a week where you eat anything you want. It will keep you from feeling so deprived of foods you like.

Exercise is a critical part of any weight loss plan. Using cardio interval training and functional strength training is the best way to build lean (not bulky) muscle. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism and fat burning capacity will be. Check out my How To Lose Love Handles page. I go into more detail about how the combination of healthy diet, interval training, and strength training is the most effective way to lose fat and build lean muscle. That's what you want. It's not just about losing weight on a scale. It's about developing a healthy body composition (low body fat/high lean muscle mass).

I hope that helps.

Get started today. Focus on your goal and stick to it.
If you screw up (which everyone does) get right back to healthy eating. The greatest feat is not never falling, it's getting back up after falling.
Take it slow and steady and you'll get there.

You can do it!
Let me know about your progress.

Good Luck

Bill

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