One of the conundrums of weight loss is that it seems harder to accomplish when you really try. If your calorie consumption matched your willpower one to one, losing weight would be a piece of cake. Make that a piece of broccoli. However, willpower is often in short supply when you are facing down a mountain of calories, so don't waste it on a frivolous fad diet. Your best help for weight loss is a combination of proven techniques and a personalized menu.
History
Dieting came of age in the early 1800s with the advent of the Graham diet, which featured a vegetarian meal plan and abstinence from caffeine. In 1864, William Banting reported losing 50 lbs. in his "Letter on Corpulence," and his low-carb diet caught on so well that "banting" became a popular synonym for "dieting." The 20th century saw an increase in weight loss plans, with such diets as Atkins, South Beach and Hollywood making their way into the annals of weight loss history.
Features
The problem with fad diets is that, despite how well they work in helping you lose weight, they do not constitute a lifestyle change. Diets based on an unbalanced menu, such as low carbohydrate, or overexposure to one food, such as watermelon, do not offer solutions for the long term. If you truly want help for weight loss, you need to revamp your nutritional intake and your lifestyle. A well-rounded diet and exercise are vital to a healthy weight.
Time Frame
While fad diets work their way into popular culture with promises of fast weight loss, you may find that you put the pounds back on just as quickly when the diet is done. You can lose weight permanently by taking the time to diet right. Customize a balanced menu for weight loss by paring down calories. Limit your calorie intake to a target amount per day --- between 1,000 and 1,500, depending on your size and will power --- but make sure the foods you eat provide you with the nutrients your body needs. By cutting your calorie intake but maintaining balance, you will experience slow but steady weight loss of around 1 to 3 lbs. per week.
Considerations
Consider cooking your own meals from whole foods. Lean meat and fish, legumes, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs and dairy products will provide all the nutrition you need to be healthy. Cooking your meals is a way to know the exact ingredients and caloric content of what you eat --- plus you can cook the foods you like best.
Benefits
You can maximize weight loss with exercise. Regularly practice the activities you enjoy, whether that means taking the dog on long walks or vigorously gardening every afternoon. By eating a balanced menu of foods you like and adding enjoyable activities to your lifestyle, you are laying the foundation for a sustainable body weight for the rest of your life.
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