Are diets the best solutions when it comes to losing weight?
By: Taren Vaughan
For many of us, losing weight can be a very overwhelming process. People use various methods to assist them with their weight loss efforts. One of the most popular ways to shed a few pounds is by dieting. There are hundreds of diets out there that people go on. But there are three main diets that those trying to lose weight take part in.
Cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins is the creator of one of the most popular diets today, The Atkins Diet. The Atkins Diet focuses on one’s carbohydrate intake. One of the main goals of the diet is to control the body’s insulin levels. While on this diet, a person will drastically decrease the amount of carbohydrates that they consume, replacing them with foods high in protein. The Atkins Diet is broken up into four phases including the Induction, OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss), Pre-Maintenance and Lifetime Maintenance. I myself have seen people lose weight from being on this diet. The problem was that once they stopped the diet, their weight sky-rocked, making them heavier than they were before.
Another well known diet is The South Beach Diet. Similar to The Atkins Diet, this diet requires a decrease in carbohydrate intake. The South Beach Diet is also broken up into phases where individuals are required to give up their beloved sweets. The creators of The South Beach Diet took it a step further and provided people with the opportunity to purchase frozen meals. South Beach Diet dinners are available in local grocery stores and supercenters.
The third highly recognized diet is The Zone Diet. The Zone Diet is unique in comparison to both The Atkins Diet and The South Beach Diet. This diet actually requires a person to indulge in an almost even balance of carbohydrates, fats and protein. In contrast to other diets, The Zone Diet does not encourage a decrease in the number of calories one consumes. It is more focused on changing what you eat instead.
So why do we resort to these types of dieting methods?
It’s because we want the easy way out. None of these particular diets require a person to do excessive amounts of exercising. This is good news for those who despise going to the gym.
Some diets proclaim that a person will lose weight within the first few days of doing them. This has the potential to be a very unhealthy situation. Weight loss should be a gradual, yet steady, process. Rapid weight loss or gain can permanently damage your body.
One thing we must all remember is that dieting is only a temporary fix. In order to lose weight and keep the pounds off, you have to change your eating habits. It is up to the individual to exhibit self control when it comes to consuming different foods.
Maintaining a healthy weight is a life long process but it can be accomplished with hard work and dedication.