Achieving significant weight loss means finding a diet that is effective and practical. It must fit with your lifestyle and be able to be used over an extended period of time. There are a variety of high weight-loss diets that meet these criteria. Some, such as the Master Cleanse, offer extremely rapid weight loss, while others, like Weight Watchers, focus on losing weight slowly over a period of months or years. You should always consult your health professional to help you choose the best diet plan.
Master Cleanse, aka the Lemonade Diet
The Master Cleanse, also called the Lemonade Diet, is a cleansing diet that claims to help you lose a lot of weight very quickly. Peter Glickman, who wrote "Lose Weight, Have More Energy & Be Happier in 10 Days", lost 23 pounds in 20 days on the diet, and he notes that the results are typical. The high weight loss is due to following a liquid diet based on drinking lemonade made with fresh lemons, cayenne pepper and maple syrup. The diet is designed to be used for as few as 24 hours, or up to three weeks, meaning you can tailor it to your weight loss goals. Glickman suggests following the cleanse with a raw food diet to maintain weight loss.
Weight Watchers
Designed to help you lose weight by permanently changing your eating habits, Weight Watchers is recommended by experts at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who note that: "a support system is critical to long-term weight loss". Members are encouraged to lose one to two pounds per week, and by following the diet long-term, weight loss of 100 pounds or more is achievable, according to member testimonials. Among the benefits of Weight Watchers is that it does not require cutting out food groups or avoiding eating out, which makes the diet easier to maintain. There is also an online program, and Weight Watchers makes an extensive range of convenience foods to make dieting easier.
Atkins
The Atkins diet is designed to promote weight loss by following a low-carbohydrate eating plan. It is based on the fact that the body burns carbohydrates first, before accessing fat stores. By cutting carbohydrates to as little as 20 grams per day in the first phase of the diet, it forces your body to burn fat, according to "Living the Low-Carb Life." It also prevents extreme hunger because cutting carbohydrates regulates blood sugar and insulin levels. Because of this, the Atkins diet can be used over the long term, allowing for high weight loss. The key is to gradually adjust your carbohydrate intake based on your body and energy needs so you maintain a steady weight loss.
References
- Google Books; "Lose Weight, Have More Energy & Be Happier in 10 Days", Peter Glickman, 2005
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Common-Sense Strategies to Long-Term Weight Loss
- Weight Watchers: Losing Weight While Gaining a Master's
- Google Books: "Living the Low-Carb Life: From Atkins to the Zone", Jonny Bowden, 2004
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