Any diet that restricts calories will help you lose weight. For long-lasting results, you must make a commitment to develop lifestyle changes that you can maintain, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. The changes need to be permanent and sustainable and provide you with a healthy eating and exercise plan that will not compromise your overall well-being.
Potential
Your potential for success at achieving long-lasting results depends on your motivation. Be honest about your willingness to make the changes and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Mayo Clinic doctors suggest removing distractions in your life, such as financial or marital difficulties. Prepare to reach your full potential by giving yourself enough time and by setting realistic goals.
Types
There is a wide range of diet plans on the market, ranging from pre-packaged meals to calorie or carbohydrate counting and diets that rely on supplements. When looking for one that can be integrated into your lifestyle choose a type of diet plan that provides a well-balanced selection of foods from the major food groups and includes food that you enjoy eating. Look for a type of diet plan that will provide the proper nutrition and will fit within your budget and current lifestyle.
Features
Look for a diet plan that features exercise and movement as part of the daily plan. To lose weight, you must take in fewer calories than you burn. Exercise burns calories, allowing you to maintain a healthy eating pattern. Exercise brings other health benefits that will assist you in your long-term goals, such as improved blood pressure and blood sugar levels, increased muscle tone and reduced stress.
Effects
Garner support from friends, family and weight loss support groups that can help you stick to your goals. While you must make the ultimate decisions each day about what to eat and how much to exercise, the effects of a support system can make the difference between short-term yo-yo dieting and long-term weight loss success. Losing weight with others helps you to be accountable to someone else.
Warning
Dietary supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not subject to testing for purity or labeling for correct ingredients. Additionally, many dietary supplements interact negatively with other medications. Doctors at the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that dieters be monitored when using any supplements or diet aids and not to rely on them for long-lasting results.
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