Weighing In On Selecting a Diet

I know, “diet” is a four letter word that most of us would prefer to not think about. Watching consumption of calories, carbs and so many other things can be a drag. The origins of the word “diet” literally mean “manner of living.” When looked at in that light, it could mean how and what you eat versus the negative restrictive regimens we commonly associate with the word. With all of the programs out there, it can be overwhelming to select the one that’s right for you, the one with the greatest chance of success with healthy weight loss and maintenance afterward. Here are a few factors to consider when selecting your next eating program.

First, let’s look at enjoyment of the foods included. Are these foods that you would normally eat simply because you like them? Your family is another factor in this – do your roommates, spouse, children, etc also enjoy these foods. This would eliminate the need to eat differently or prepare multiple meals.

Next, availability is a factor to consider. Are the foods in the diet readily available to you? For example, some programs use specific brands of food. Take a look to see if those foods are at the local grocery store. If not, what type of lead time is required to order them online and have them delivered. Your travel schedule is also something to consider…travelers may not be the best candidate for programs with uncommon foods.

As with almost everything else, cost is a consideration when selecting a plan. When looking over the plan, both as an overview and at the detail level, what is the cost associated with following the program? Some foods are only available at specialty grocers or via mail delivery, and may be more costly than foods available at big box grocers. Size of your family is also a consideration here, as the single person’s budget varies greatly from a family of five.

The final factor I’ll address here is the sustainability of the plan. When looking at yourself in one year, are you able to see yourself eating the same way, or have you reverted back to old habits in some fashion. As I mentioned earlier, a “diet” is a “manner of living.” Your eating regimen should be something you can maintain long term, with small tweaks to address your short term goals.

There are huge sections of stores that advertise dozens of different diets. Do your research and be sure to consider these points, such as enjoyment of food, food availability and cost and your ability to sustain a particular option. Making an informed decision will lead to motivation and a greater opportunity for success in reaching your weight loss goals!