The best weight loss method is one that you like, one that you can stick to and one that you can use to maintain your weight after you've reached your goal, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Count Calories
Eat fewer calories than you burn and you will lose weight. Look for guides that help you calculate the number of calories in foods you eat. Read food labels and write down every calorie you put in your mouth. Aim to reduce your calorie consumption by 500 calories per day to lose a pound a week. By focusing on calorie counting, you can learn how to incorporate low-calorie foods in your daily diet to maintain your weight loss as well.
Prepared Meals
Many people find that buying prepared meals takes the guesswork out of counting calories. Diets that provide prepared such as Jenny Craig or NutriSystem offer daily meals and snacks that do all the work for you. You will want to return to regular food eventually, making weight maintenance more difficult, reports the Mayo Clinic.
Meal Replacements
Shakes and energy bars replace one or two meals a day on meal replacement diet programs. According to the Colorado State University Extension Center, most people who use meal replacement weight loss methods often feel hungry. Meal replacement diets also do not teach effective lifestyle changes to keep the weight off.
Hypnosis
A hypnotherapist can put you into a deep trance and implant suggestions that you eat less and exercise more. Hypnosis can be helpful for losing weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. When you're in a trance, you are more receptive to healthy lifestyle suggestions that could help you lose weight.
Diet Pills
According to the Mayo Clinic, prescription diet pills are effective methods of weight loss for people with a body mass index over 27. Meridia changes brain chemistry to make you feel full faster and eat less. Xenical blocks fat absorption and digestion of food in the stomach and intestines. Both drugs do carry side effects, however, such as constipation, increased blood pressure and heart rate, dry mouth and headaches.
Weight-Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a method that involves surgical stapling of the stomach. The procedure usually is reserved for the extremely obese, who have a body mass index of more than 40. Surgery limits the amount of food you can comfortably consume, but it does require willingness and discipline as well. Side effects can include blood clots, pneumonia, nutritional deficiencies and gallstones.
Support Groups
Support groups such as Overeaters Anonymous address your overeating and seek a spiritual solution coupled with support and advice from others trying to lose and maintain their weight.
Weight Watchers
A popular weight loss method that works for many people is Weight Watchers. The program relies on a point system to encourage members to plan meals and to substitute healthy alternatives. Exercise and group support also are encouraged.
Exercise
Strength building and aerobic exercise burn calories and add muscles that increase metabolism. If you rely on additional exercise to lose weight, often you don't need to reduce your eating. Many runners say they put their body through the rigors of the activity just so they can eat.
Limited Food Choices
Many diets rely on one specific food source for your nutrition or have you remove a certain food from your diet. Examples include the low-carb diets like Atkins, Mediterranean diets, high-protein diets and low-fat diets. All can help you lose weight if you also eat fewer calories, but most can lead to some level of nutritional deficiencies.
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