10 Best Diets for Weight Loss in 2026, According to Dietitians

Whole food protein (steak, eggs, chicken, soy, etc.) and fiber-filled vegetables (spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.) have the highest nutrition percentages. High protein almost always equates with high nutrition, meaning you get the maximum amount of nutrition per calorie. But that doesn’t mean you have to count calories.
  • Each diet received a score on a scale of 1 to 5 for weight loss and health changes, for a combined overall score out of 10.
  • While frequent meals may reduce disease risk, recent studies suggest that compared to eating one to two meals a day, eating six times a day might increase weight loss success.
  • Much like the detox, the Paleo diet also restricts particular foods, including processed items, grains, sugar, and dairy in some circumstances.
  • Most available drugs result in modest weight loss (about 5% of body weight on average), sometimes at the expense of bothersome side effects.
  • Strength training can be done with weights, resistance bands or using your own body weight in activities like yoga and Pilates.
  • Each meal will help you stay full and satiated throughout the day.
  • This diet was also rated #2 and received a 3.6 out of 5.0 score for “best fast weight loss.”
  • This is our proven initial phase, where you can potentially lose 6-10 lbs in your first 2 weeks.
There are many ways to do intermittent fasting — ranging from fasting for a number of hours each day up to an entire 24-hour fasting period one or two times a week. Each subsequent phase becomes more lenient, and the diet emphasizes lean protein, unsaturated fats, and low-glycemic carbs such as nonstarchy vegetables. Very low-carb diets can also be dangerous for people with diabetes who are on insulin due to the risk for hypoglycemia. Some research backs up this notion, including one study that found a link between following the MIND diet and a reduced risk of dementia, though more research is needed. The MIND diet, or Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, is a sort of hybrid between the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet. U.S. News & World Report has also consistently listed the DASH diet as a top diet in its annual rankings. Is It Bad to Lose Weight Too Quickly? You should thus keep these risks in mind when crash dieting. Our evidence-based guides are updated at least once per year to reflect and reference the latest science on the topic.All our evidence-based health guides are written or reviewed by medical doctors who are experts on the topic. Sometimes — if you choose low-sugar fruits and keep portions small. A dairy-free keto diet can be very effective. It’s not necessary to eat dairy to successfully eat keto (though dairy may help add taste and variety). According to experts at America’s CDC, losing one to two pounds (0.45kg - 0.9kg) per week is a healthy and sustainable way to shift some timber. The scientific community still hasn't settled on the effects of gradual vs sudden weight loss; a 2020 Cambridge University study found potential benefits to both, stating that further research is needed. Your personal version of being healthy will become a part of who you are once you implement these steps and intentionally design a healthier lifestyle that is special to you. MUFAs are found in foods like olives, nuts, avocados, dark chocolate, seeds, soybean, flax, and olive and sunflower oils. It emphasizes minimally processed foods high in potassium and other minerals, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low fat dairy products. DD+ MEMBERSHIPLose weight ona vegetarian dietWith our personalized meal plans, we do the planning for you. Similarly, vegetarian diets may not improve all heart health markers more than diets that include meat. That fits with frequent clinical experience suggesting many people easily adapt to time-restricted eating, especially when they follow a low-carb or high-protein diet that helps improve satiety and reduce appetite.7 Are there ways to use intermittent fasting to make sure you lose weight in a healthy way? Studies demonstrate that intermittent fasting can help people with weight loss, but there’s some controversy about whether it helps with healthy weight loss. Intermittent fasting — introducing relatively brief but regular fasts into your eating routine — is a popular approach for weight loss and improving metabolic health. However, when it comes to losing weight, following a healthy, balanced diet made up of foods you enjoy is your best bet. Following this type of eating plan can result in certain nutritional deficiencies, and children, as well as pregnant or lactating women, should avoid it. Because the diet is low in carbs, it may not be appropriate for someone who is on insulin or has diabetes — and because it’s high in protein, you’d want to avoid it if you have kidney disease, according to Mayo Clinic. With this eating style, you’re looking at a lot of menu planning and preparation. Canadian researcher Megan Ramos found the best intermittent fasting approach for women over 40, helping more than 20,000 fans get fit. Dr. Avena sees women lose 5 pounds in a week this way. He sees patients shed pounds every week drinking these fat-infused smoothies. The Mayo Clinic Diet program works by combining evidence-based nutrition guidance, personalized planning, and digital tools to support long-term, healthy weight loss. “Meal planning is one of my top tips for staying healthy and eating well. Incorporating exercise every day also burn extra calories and keeps your heart, muscles, and bones healthy. The keto diet sounds new, but it has been around since the 1920's as a dietary approach to treating epilepsy in children. Advocates of this lifestyle say a carnivore meal plan can help cure depression, anxiety, diabetes, and arthritis, among other health conditions. It is entirely possible to succeed on other eating plans you do enjoy. But if you really love carbs and how they make you feel, there is no need to restrict them to such low levels to lose weight. And as long as you maintain your calorie intake consistently, adding in the occasional high-carb food won't ruin your progress or wreak havoc on your diet.

Day 6: Dinner

  • Doctors and dieters both witnessed a seismic shift in how the world views cravings in 2024.
  • Practice mindful eating, chewing slowly and enjoying the flavor of your food.
  • Additionally, increasing how much you sweat through cardio training or sauna usage can cause you to drop several pounds quickly.
  • Six things you should consider before starting a dietHealth benefits of fastingHow many calories should I eat in a day?
  • One of the goals of the Fast 800 is to target metabolically active abdominal fat – the type of fat that puts people at increased risk of lifestyle diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.
  • Plus, some studies suggest that drinking water may be helpful for weight loss.36 Add a squeeze of lemon or lime, if you like.
  • If you aren't confident in your ability to maintain your weight loss after stopping a certain program, it may not be the right program for you.
Ready to jump into your weight loss journey and find a delicious diet that’s sustainable and effective? Aim for around 1 to 2 pounds of weight loss per week and remember to celebrate your non-scale diet wins along the way. For starters, “losing weight too quickly can lead to muscle loss,” says Franklin, summarizing the results of a study on how the rate of weight loss can impact body composition. Women generally need between 1,600 to 2,000 calories per day, depending on age, in order to maintain a healthy weight, per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Opt for foods that have a balance of protein, fat, carbs, vitamins and minerals to keep you feeling your best and feeling full between mealtimes. “Anyone can follow a diet and lose weight, but those who are successful at keeping it off understand the necessary shift in overall mentality and psychology when it comes to eating and exercise.” The diet heavily focuses on fiber-rich carbohydrates like vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains; protein primarily from seafood and fish, and heart-healthy unsaturated fats from olive oil, nuts, and seeds. Rapid weight loss can seem easy if you believe these advertising claims. It may be worth a try to calm the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but it’s not likely to bring down your weight. It eliminates various categories of foods, then reintroduces them as tolerated. “I believe in weight training for overall fitness and health but if I’m trying to shed a few pounds, I’ll up my cardio game for a few weeks,” Shapiro says. “A healthy jumpstart should always include at least 50 percent fresh vegetables,” Kaufman says. Eat the bulk of your calories before 3 p.m. “If I think my jeans are getting a little tight, I write down everything I eat for three days,” Alpert says. So you’re trying to lose weight fast, eh? With the right approach, you can achieve your weight loss goals and embark on a healthier, happier lifestyle. In conclusion, the journey to finding the best diet for weight loss is deeply personal and varies from one individual to another. While exercise is not mandatory for weight loss, it’s highly beneficial. The rate of weight loss can vary greatly from person to person.
  • How long weight loss is maintained, however, is dependent on your ability to adapt your dietary habits once you start to introduce a more balanced and healthy approach to eating.
  • But it’s not the whole picture.
  • After 14 days of following the Scarsdale Medical Diet (SMD) plan, dieters should switch to “Keep Trim” phase for the next 2 weeks.
  • Foods that are high in both fat and refined carbs are your number one weight loss enemy.
  • Excess weight has been shown to have a negative mental effect on the brain.
  • Although studies on the WW program have focused on changes in weight, some have also reported improvements in health markers.
  • However, the relationship between glycemic index and body weight is less well studied and remains controversial.
  • However, IF is not for everyone, and the last thing you want to do is start with a plan that's unsustainable (or doesn't work for your schedule).
Cakes and pastries will also be high in saturated fats. Choose wholegrain options such as wholemeal bread and chapatti, brown rice, wholemeal pasta or wholegrain breakfast cereals. Choose vegetable-based spreads and oils instead of butter, lard, ghee, coconut and palm oil to cut down on saturated fat. Choose low fat options to avoid the saturated fat.

Green Mediterranean Diet

This is an issue because excess fat increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Eating slowly will help your brain and gastrointestinal tract coordinate their activities, meaning you're more likely to feel satisfied with less food. The more we sleep, the less we eat— not just because when you're unconscious you usually can't make pasta, but also because when we’re rested, we don’t need to snack to feel energized. A large number of cardio exercises can also be implemented outdoors, too, which is known to decrease stress hormones, lowering your blood pressure while providing the body with the Vitamin D it needs. Eating a very low-calorie diet can speed up your results, but using hormones in conjunction is just not necessary. There have not been any studies since the 1950’s that have shown this method to be effective for weight loss, and promising early studies have since been refuted and heavily criticized by the science community. However, it is not really possible to hack your body's metabolism and drastically increase your body's ability to burn fat in a safe manner. For others, it means having extra support, like meal plans, education, and features that help you stay consistent. For some, that means tracking food to better understand their eating habits. That’s why fatsecret offers tools and support tailored to your needs, wherever you are on your weight loss journey. Finally, long-term compliance can prove challenging – food choices are limited which can severely restrict eating out with family and friends. It’s also worth noting that because the diet restricts carbs it’s typically low in dietary fibre which may have a negative impact on gut health including reducing the presence of gut-friendly bacteria. Sometimes this leads to an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). That’s when your thyroid gland, which controls how your body uses energy, becomes inflamed. About 3% of people who give birth develop postpartum thyroiditis. They are hard to stick to and can lead to other health problems. This means that dietary supplements do not need FDA approval before they are marketed. The amount you eat is just as important as what you eat – no matter how healthy your diet is, you can still put on weight if you are eating too much. Find out what a healthy diet looks like when you're trying to lose weight, and see our tips, tricks and advice to help you stick to one. Eating breakfast and avoiding late-night eating should be considered important dietary strategies not only for weight loss, but also for metabolic health and are based on the physiologic clock. Egg-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian low-carb meal plans are also available. You can find low-cost meal plans for those on a budget or international-inspired meal plans for those who like a variety of culinary tastes. You can also go straight to the meal plans. We’ve included our best meal planning tips in the next section. Better yet, use our personalized meal plan generator, which takes meal planning to the next level when it comes to simplicity and customization. Simply replacing unhealthy foods with healthy ones — not for a few weeks, but forever — will help you achieve weight loss while also offering numerous other benefits. Low-carb diets tend to be filling due to their high protein and fat content, which means reduced hunger and cravings (and an easier time fasting if you’d like to incorporate this). Unfortunately, foods for which studies show we have a high biological preference (those high in sugar and calories), and which contribute to overeating, are currently the cheapest and most accessible. From introducing new foods into your weekly diet, to trying new ways of exercises, to even having a cheat meal here and there, the diet and lifestyle tips below can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
  • Smith explains that highly restrictive diets are extremely difficult to keep up with.
  • The lean turkey meat creates a hearty bolognese sauce that mixes nicely with a garlic spaghetti squash, a great alternative to your typical pasta!
  • To achieve genuine fat loss during a workout, 30 to 60 minutes of lower- to moderate-intensity exercise is required.
  • This instant pot cauliflower mac and cheese solves the issue by providing you with a creamy, cheesy, low-carb meal you can throw together in one pot.
  • Companies selling the plans promise quick weight loss.
  • To get healthy and stay that way, the trend has to continue -- not just for a week or a month, but for the long term.
  • Want to learn more about the potential benefits of intermittent fasting — or need information on how to get started?
  • These four sections build on each other to give you a complete system for losing fat, getting lean, and maintaining your results for life.
The studies also weren't the same, the interventions were short (again, topping out at 12 weeks), and the ACV was taken in different dosages (5 to 30 milliliters a day), making it hard to draw conclusions from this. Still, given how persistent this trend is, it’s fair to have questions. Unlike plenty of other fads, there is a little research on this, although it’s important to be aware that much of this is flawed. There are controversies and myths about a keto diet, but for most people, it appears to be very safe. Our visual guides, recipes, meal plans, and simple two-week Get Started program are everything you need to succeed on keto. In this guide, you’ll learn how to eat a keto diet. It can help the body burn more fat, reduce hunger, and reduce blood sugar levels. The South Beach Diet is focused on replacing bad carbs and bad fats with good carbs and good fats. The South Beach Diet claims that you can lose 8 to 13 pounds within the first two weeks, and then continue dropping 1 to 2 pounds a week. They take up relatively little stomach space and they don’t create feelings of satiety until you’ve overeaten. Adopting balanced eating habits can help you feel better about yourself. Being healthy includes feeling good about yourself. Changing your eating and physical activity habits can be difficult at first. Overall, little proof exists that any dietary supplement can help with healthy, long-term weight loss. But these general guidelines can help you lose weight — and keep it off — in a healthy way. “Your diet should contain a wide variety of healthy, whole foods. “It’s harder to lose weight when you don’t have enough muscle mass because muscles burn lots of calories.” When you go back to eating a regular diet, your metabolism isn’t used to that many calories — and the pounds come back. Limit foods with saturated and trans fats, such as meat and high-fat dairy products. So if you eat or drink 2,000 calories a day, carbs would account for between 900 and 1,300 calories a day. Opt for snacks that have protein, fiber and healthy fats to prevent cravings and keep you feeling full and satisfied Successful weight loss takes a long-term commitment — build a healthy lifestyle you can stick with The change in your metabolism is a key reason why people regain weight after trying rapid weight loss plans. The mental aspects of rapid weight loss often determine long-term success more than the specific diet or exercise program chosen. Research shows NEAT can vary by up to 2,000 calories daily between individuals of similar size, playing a massive factor in weight management. Contrary to common belief, strength training is more important than cardio for optimal body composition, especially during rapid weight loss. This accumulation of fat around the waistline is often one of the last areas to reduce during weight loss, particularly for women. “One reason why the Mediterranean diet is so popular and heavily touted is because it is not restrictive, it's sustainable, includes delicious foods.” IT CAN BE a daunting task to identify the most effective weight loss diet. While weight loss isn’t going to happen overnight, if you're constantly feeling low energy or hungry, the diet you're following is likely not working, regardless of whether you're losing weight or not. “To find an eating pattern that helps you meet all of your wellness goals, I recommend working with a registered dietitian." As Moskovitz says, being overly restrictive with your diet to achieve noticeable or quicker weight loss results can backfire. She suggests trying to get plenty of protein in as well. If you absolutely can’t stand breakfast, then you don’t want to force yourself to eat. Just keep in mind that the number on the scale may not budge as much as you’d hope with this route because muscle weighs more than fat by volume. Like the chicken burger, our recipe for tuna burgers with wasabi mayo makes a great weight-loss-friendly meal. You’ll have a protein-rich, lower-fat meal that will keep you satisfied. In our guide, we explore the truth about fat-burning foods. GuideCan some foods boost your metabolism and help burn fat?

What does a typical day on a paleo diet look like?

If you’re interested in trying the eating style, experts recommend consulting a physician to determine whether it’s right for you. The intermittent fasting group lost about 6.4 pounds more than those who followed the calorie-restricted diet after 12 months. Research published in JAMA Network Open even found that following the Atlantic diet “significantly reduced” rates of metabolic syndrome (a group of health conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess belly fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels). While artificial sweeteners hamper those hormones by 35 percent, allulose actually boosts weight-loss hormones by 70 percent in as little as one hour, according to research. The FDA has acknowledged that this plant-based sugar substitute is metabolized by the body in a different way than other sugars. Canadian research proves that consuming sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame is linked to a higher risk of weight gain.
Avoid added sugar
However, this diet does encourage more nutritious, whole foods which can benefit your health in many different ways. This includes eating less acid-forming foods like meat, poultry, fish, grains, eggs, and alcohol, and consuming more alkaline foods such as fruits, nuts, legumes, and vegetables. That being said, using portion control and macro balance as a key focus can be a great way to learn how to balance your overall calories on any diet. The Zone diet is really one of the first macro diets that became popular—with a 40% carb, 30% protein, and  30% fat approach. You just don’t want these to dominate your diet. Protein helps with a slew of processes in your body, including muscle repair, Cording says. Cording says she often sees patients who set lofty weight-loss goals, and then become frustrated when they can’t meet them. The goal is to hit that sweet spot of having enough fat, but not so much that you end up taking in more than you burn. Fat is often portrayed as the enemy, but Cording stresses that it can be a helpful tool in losing weight.
A program tailored to you
For convenience, think of your “sweets calories” as a weekly allowance. I like how there is a gluten free meal plan. The program is flexible, personalized to your needs, and supported by digital tools like a food journal and weight tracker to help you stay on track. As your body adapts to its new way of getting energy — from fat instead of sugar — symptoms should quickly subside. Once you’ve been on a keto diet for a few weeks or more, you will likely feel great and have lots of energy. However, higher levels don’t appear to be any better than lower levels for weight loss. Ketosis is a metabolic state in which your body uses fat and ketones rather than glucose (sugar) as its main fuel source. And remember that it’s OK to change up your dietary approach as you age — and as your health, eating preferences, and lifestyle change. One reason that improved results were not seen in the time-restricted eating group may be that subjects ended up eating more calories during their eating window. Studies show that short-term intermittent fasting (36 hours or less) can be a healthy and sustainable way to reduce caloric intake while improving weight loss and metabolic health.13 People following low carb diets often naturally reduce their calorie intake, even more than people following calorie-restricted low-fat diets. We also encourage eating plenty of fiber as it may support weight loss and improve health outcomes.2 Another possible benefit is less muscle loss during weight loss, as protein is used to build muscle. This method is often promoted for weight loss and overall health benefits. Studies are looking at the long-term risks of high-protein diets that limit carbohydrates (carbs). Talk with your health care provider before starting any weight-loss diet. When you understand your goals, your eating habits, and your specific health needs, it becomes much easier to find a plan that is both realistic and will give you the results that you desire. Choosing the right diet shouldn’t be about losing weight as quickly as possible, it should be about finding the right routine that fits your schedule and helps you build healthier habits over time. Finding the best diets for weight loss can feel extremely frustrating, especially when there are so many different options out there to choose from. It’s also important to prepare your food in a healthy manner, like grilling, baking, or steaming your fish rather than frying it to cut down on saturated fats. “Similar to the vegetarian diet, pescatarians must be mindful of portion sizes when consuming high-calorie foods such as cheese,” Castro adds. However, this doesn't reflect the broader research, which tends to show consuming fewer meals can lead to greater weight loss. It has countless benefits, but when it comes to weight loss, drinking water increases the amount of calories you burn, and could also reduce appetite. According to experts at America’s CDC, losing one to two pounds per week is a healthy and sustainable way to shed bodyweight. Obesogenic environments and biological and psychological factors all contribute to obesity.10 However, obesogenic environments, including social determinants, cultures, and food supply systems, are challenging to modify. Our review indicated that there is no single best strategy for weight management. And don’t be afraid to increase the veggie portions in this recipe for a heartier meal. A filling afternoon snack can lessen snacking later in the day and may lead to more reasonable portions at dinner.
  • That fits with frequent clinical experience suggesting many people easily adapt to time-restricted eating, especially when they follow a low-carb or high-protein diet that helps improve satiety and reduce appetite.7
  • The DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is all about lowering blood pressure by eating lots of nutrient-rich foods and cutting back on sodium.
  • Read on for the five-day weight loss meal plan dietitians swear by.
  • Never wonder where you should put your limited time, energy, and effort.
  • Excess calories are stored as fat (or used for other metabolic purposes, such as building muscle), so it follows that adjusting your influx of calories will affect weight change.
  • You’ll get the same zesty flavor as traditional pepperoni with a lot more protein per calorie.
  • There are several variations, but most keto plans allow 70 to 80 percent of your daily calories to come from fat, 10 to 20 percent from protein and 5 to 10 percent from carbs.
These recipes contain healthy fats, as well as fibre and protein. This means you’re more likely to eat less throughout the day, which will help with your weight loss goals. Therefore, having protein every time you eat provides the body with steadier blood sugar control, greater satiety and reduced sugar cravings. That said, these types of dietary approaches to prevent weight gain are not right for everyone. Instead, they are usually followed for several weeks under close guidance from a healthcare provider. These are specially formulated to include the right balance of vitamins, minerals, protein, and other nutrients that your body needs in order to function properly. Steer clear of these foods if you want to lose weight and improve your health. The worst foods for losing weight are highly processed and provide lots of empty calories with little protein and other nutrients. The foods in this section can be part of a healthy weight loss approach. Choose dairy foods over whey protein supplements most of the time, no matter what type of diet you eat. Best Diet Plans To Lose Weight Fast Ranging from just-juice to just-tea cleanses, these typically short-term plans can be dangerous. Thus, most experts agree the HCG diet is not safe for anyone, Mayo Clinic notes. The Dukan diet consists of four phases, each with a rigid set of rules. It's also no replacement for blood pressure or diabetes medications — or for any traditional treatment, for that matter, notes the University of Chicago. “It is also highly acidic, which could cause irritation in some people, especially if consumed without being diluted or in large amounts.” While that may be a great starting point, you don’t have to stop there! However, you shouldn’t define health as merely avoiding disease. The simple answer focuses on avoiding metabolic syndrome — abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal blood glucose, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.30 There are several types, such as the Ketogenic Diet (extremely low in carbs, high in fats), Atkins Diet (low in carbs with phases of reintroduction), and Low-Carb Paleo Diet (focuses on whole foods, eliminating grains and processed foods). A Low-Carbohydrate Diet (LCD) focuses on reducing carbohydrate intake, typically to promote weight loss and improve metabolic health. Besides weight loss, a major benefit of the ketogenic diet is improved glycemic control, particularly beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The main drawback of a vegetarian diet can be nutritional deficiencies, such as Vitamin B12, iron, calcium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, particularly in strict vegan diets. Instead, it encourages a hearty intake of fruits, veggies, whole grains, olive oil, fish, and even some wine, while keeping red meat and processed foods in check. Choosing foods that maximize satiety per calorie can help you lose weight in a healthy way. Although non-starchy vegetables don’t provide as much protein per serving as other healthy weight loss staple foods, they provide a lot of protein and nutrients per calorie. Do you want to lose weight in a healthy way — one that provides you with all the nutrition you need and allows you to eat foods you truly enjoy? While you may need to eat fewer calories to lose weight, you don’t have to eat fewer types of foods. For breakfast, a bowl of bran flakes with sliced strawberries and walnuts with nonfat milk. It is balanced, meaning that it provides your body with all the nutrients and minerals it needs to function best. That suggests that losing weight is not easy — yet it is entirely possible when done right. More on getting started Dr. Hu adds that while intermittent fasting may help jump-start weight loss, a healthy eating strategy is necessary for success. Some other factors that impact weight loss efforts include muscle mass, level of insulin resistance, and individual nutrigenomics—how your body responds to foods, nutrients and eating patterns. For healthy weight loss, choose mostly foods with protein percentages and energy density ranges in the green columns. Let’s start with a quick overview of ways to lose weight quickly that promote unhealthy eating. Get excited, because your new diet for 2023 awaits! What’s more, you’re guaranteed to remain within your carb limit every day. This fresh and tasty dish features chicken in a creamy pesto sauce over tender zucchini noodles. Add fruit or whole-grain toast for the non-keto eaters in your household. Start tracking on a calorie-counting app like MyFitnessPal or use a regular notebook. The habit also takes less than 15 minutes per day on average when you do it regularly, according to a study published in the journal Obesity. Start small by pushing up bedtime by 15 to 30 minutes — every minute counts! For people who are vegetarian who rely on a lot of high-carb foods like pasta and crackers, transforming their diet in this way could lead to weight loss, though it can feel very restrictive and put you at risk of nutrient deficiencies. There isn’t an official “Asian diet,” but this eating plan is based on the traditional diets of people living in Asian countries. In phase one, you’ll stop eating certain foods or food groups for a specific amount of time; in phase two, you’ll slowly reintroduce them into your diet one by one and watch for symptoms to reappear. Depending on what your diet was before, you may lose weight on the plan, particularly if it helps decrease calorie intake.

Flexibility for lifestyle and culture

Subsequent stages of the plan promote a moderately low carb, Mediterranean-style diet claiming that this will help restore the body's ability to reach and maintain its ideal weight and reduce the risk of chronic disease. This phase is designed to fit personal goals and to work with your lifestyle; you'll continue with the Mediterranean-style of eating, following a low-sugar diet with limited amounts of starchy carbs and including a weekly fast day, if needed. The plan recommends no more than two shakes per day or 10 per week, with the emphasis instead placed on whole, natural foods. Choose a healthy diet that will satisfy your body’s nutritional needs and exercise as much as you can. Whether you call it a juice fast, cleanse, diet or detox, these regimes claim to promote rapid weight loss. If you haven't seen a change for 3 months, then it's time to revisit your diet and exercise plan. This condition, which interrupts your breathing while you sleep, often affects people who are overweight.
  • This means the body becomes less efficient at converting food into energy, managing blood sugar and regulating fat storage.
  • If you’re having trouble losing weight, we suggest that you avoid sweeteners.
  • Healthy weight involves a lifestyle with healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity and stress management.
  • Not only is a high-fiber diet good for your heart health, it can keep you feeling fuller, longer, Cording says.
  • The GOLO Diet is a weight management program that focuses on regulating insulin levels to aid weight loss and improve overall health.
  • Green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables are some of the most nutrient-dense foods.
But you can face health issues if you stay on it for long. How much protein are you getting? It's a good idea to try different protein sources. Examples include skinless chicken, skinless turkey, and lean cuts of red meat, such as beef and pork, that are labeled loin or round. Give yourself a week, boosting protein gradually. Designed for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the low-FODMAP diet limits certain types of carbohydrates called fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, or FODMAPs for short. It isn’t focused on counting calories or carbs, or following any sort of specific protocol. But usually, folks follow this diet to help prevent or treat chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. And as you lose body fat, you want to keep those muscles. Under a licensed professional's care, you'll eat one regular meal per day and swap the others for special shakes, soups, or bars. People who eat more in the morning and less at night tend to lose more weight. It’s an ongoing lifestyle enhancement that helps you eat better, move more, and replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones. The following list outlines the top 25 diets for weight loss, as supported by scientific studies and peer-reviewed research. While these might promise the fastest weight loss, they are neither healthy nor sustainable in the long term. The Mayo Clinic Diet helps you achieve lasting weight loss with custom meal plans and proven strategies. Studies show intermittent fasting may help you lose weight, improve blood pressure and more Likewise, skip diets that promise rapid weight loss of more than 1 or 2 pounds a week. But Romito recommends steering clear of plans that forbid nutritious foods that you want to continue to include in your diet. Others swear by intermittent fasting, where you restrict eating during certain days of the week or hours of the day. “Some people get tired of tracking or scanning points and get frustrated, so WW depends on your lifestyle,” she notes. Focusing on a balanced diet can improve your mood and help minimize symptoms of depression or anxiety by emphasizing quality and quantity over restriction, per research in the BMJ. “It’s meant to help you learn to listen to your body and its hunger or satiety cues, but it may do the opposite,” she explains. Plus, since many fruits and vegetables have a high water content, they can boost your hydration for the day, she adds. Focus on eating good quality, minimally processed real food. If you want to lose weight, avoid special “low-carb” products that are full of carbs. Another common mistake when eating a low-carb diet is getting fooled by the creative marketing of special “low-carb” products. Multiple other studies demonstrate that adding protein to your diet markedly reduces hunger and food intake.14 Study after study shows that low carb works for weight loss and that on average it improves important health markers.10
Mayo Clinic Press
  • However, OMAD is an extreme version of an intermittent fasting diet, which can lead to overeating and discomfort during your one meal.
  • This can help you make smarter choices, reduce calorie intake, and improve the nutritional value overall (36).
  • That’s why this diet allows some of the foods that are high in fat and protein.
  • Mira Rasmussen, an exercise physiologist, likes wall squats, with the help of an exercise ball for body alignment.
  • Listed below are some of the most popular diets that work fast and that actually help people to lose weight.
But if these are not available, it is smart to also track the disappearance of your belly fat, by measuring your waist circumference. You can do this with a DEXA scan, hydrostatic weights, plethysmography scales and others. Thus weight or BMI are imperfect ways to measure your progress. Forget the clock and listen to your body instead. Instead, wait for the hunger to return before you eat again. The Mayo Clinic Diet is designed to help you lose excess weight and develop a sustainable, healthy eating pattern you can maintain for life. Updated with new tools, delicious meal plans and personalization features, the Mayo Clinic weight loss program supports a healthier lifestyle you can maintain for life. Both My Plan and personalized meal plans are designed to make healthy eating simple, enjoyable, and sustainable, no matter your starting point. The best way to lose weight fast is to eat right and make time for exercise every day. While weight loss isn’t simple, dietitians say these steps are your best bet to lose weight and keep it off over time. Most of the time, those diet plans are bad news for your health. Extreme diets with lofty promises usually fall under the “rapid weight loss” category. Once a wide range of nutritious foods and physical activity become part of your everyday routine, the idea of dieting will start to seem strange. Once you have a healthy eating pattern, you'll soon feel like you have more energy and you'll want to be more active. These are much better for you than the saturated fat found in butter, cream, fatty meats, sausages, biscuits, cakes and fried foods. When health professionals talk about weight loss, they typically recommend a gradual approach of 1-2 pounds per week. But how do you know if the advice you’re getting is a fad diet or healthy advice that you should listen to? “That’s because fad diets don’t focus on lifestyle modification, which is necessary to keep weight off, and these diets aren’t sustainable throughout life.” Fad diets typically don’t take into account the full range of vitamins and minerals your body actually needs. Coffee and teaFor a nearly calorie-free beverage that provides flavor and an energy boost, drink coffee or tea. It’s calorie-free, widely available, and the ultimate thirst quencher. Whey protein supplements and shakes fall under the “dairy” category. Just be sure to read labels and avoid low-fat yogurt with added sugar and starch. The diet can be helpful for weight loss, as well as decreasing risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease, per research and Mayo Clinic. Because you’ll be eating meat some of the time, you may also be at a lower risk of the aforementioned nutrient deficiencies that vegetarians and vegans may face. With this approach, plant proteins, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits and veggies will be staples, with the occasional meat dish thrown in. You can think of the flexitarian diet as a plan for part-time vegetarians. Plus, your body slows things down to save energy. It tells your brain when you have enough fat stored up. Your fat cells make a hormone called leptin. “The more muscle mass you have, the quicker you burn calories.” “Your muscle burns through calories much faster, even if you’re just sitting on the couch,” Dr. Creel explains. Muscle works to burn more calories, even when you’re not doing much of anything. And exercise is an important factor in burning those extra calories. Your metabolism is your body’s calorie-burning process. It’s hard to resist the lure of rapid weight loss. Healthy food and physical activity will give you more energy and leave you feeling healthier. "Low blood sugar levels from not eating for so long could cause problems," says Dr. Hu. "For instance, it could help reduce your daily calories, especially if you're a late-night snacker." There doesn't appear to be much downside, and the approach may help you manage your eating habits, according to Dr. Hu. Some people who follow intermittent fasting claim it helps increase energy levels, too. There are many variations of intermittent fasting diets, each with a slightly different take on the ‘optimum’ way to practice. There is no intermittent fasting window that has been scientifically proven to be better than others for helping with weight loss. Yes, research on IF has shown that it is beneficial for lowering the risk of cardiovascular illnesses (1, 2, 16).There is no intermittent fasting window that has been scientifically proven to be better than others for helping with weight loss. When it comes to weight loss, progress is made by inches, not miles, so it’s much harder to track and a lot easier to give up. Eating fewer calories has a bigger immediate impact, but staying active will help you keep the pounds off. But it’s not that simple, as many people can tell you from their own experience. For faster results, you’ll need to work with a doctor to make sure that you stay healthy and get the nutrients that you need. If you shed pounds too fast, you’ll lose muscle, bone, and water instead of fat, says the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Also, keep your cabinets and refrigerator stocked with fresh, healthy snacks so they’re front and center. Start your day on the right foot and fuel your body with a breakfast balanced between the three macronutrients — rather than one mostly carb-laden. Over time, you can learn about your food to the point where you may not have to journal. Evidence shows that tracking your food, such as with an calorie counting app, can be an amazing tool to help manage your goals. Creatine is made of amino acids (the building blocks of protein), but it’s not protein. There’s been a huge push this year to lose body fat, instead of valuable muscle tissue. No wonder people who have been yo-yo dieting for decades are embracing this nutrition approach, welcoming its simple meal prep, low stress, no restrictions and impressive results. In it, plant eaters lowered fasting blood sugar by 20 percent, improved “bad” LDL cholesterol by 663 percent and lost 4.2 pounds more than the meat eaters. That may be in part because the diet can help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. The SlimFast diet is also offered in a number of different categories depending on your dietary needs, including SlimFast Keto and Slimfast Diabetic Weight Loss. Another benefit of this diet is that it can be very flavorful because of the focus on seasonings,” adds Hultin, who also wrote Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep. In fact, in the diet’s pilot program, 53 Mayo Clinic employees with obesity lost an average of 8 pounds during the initial phase. Some studies highlight the link between following this diet and benefits for body weight, improved markers of metabolic health, blood pressure, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. “For example, you would occasionally have some sort of lean meat, fish, or poultry in only one meal per day or maybe just three times per week.” Researchers found that reducing animal-based foods, whether unprocessed, minimally processed, or highly processed, was strongly linked to weight loss. Yet, even if you are leaning on these more processed vegan-friendly foods, you may still achieve weight loss. Data suggest that vegetarian diets seem to help with weight loss more effectively than non-vegetarian diets. If you have a medical condition or are on prescribed medication, consult your GP before making any drastic changes to your eating patterns. So, you do not need to follow a juice diet to kick-start the detox process – your body is working hard to do this for you on an ongoing basis. However, some of these beneficial nutrients like vitamins A, E and K need fat for them to be absorbed — the lack of fat in a juice diet may, therefore, impact how well we access these vitamins. “Intermittent fasting can be really challenging if you have an ever-changing schedule,” adds Hultin. “There are many types of intermittent fasting, so ensuring you pick one that works for you and your lifestyle is important.” A typical low-carb diet limits carbs to less than 57 g daily, but this can vary, according to Mayo Clinic. Emphasizing vegetables, berries, beans, whole grains, olive oil, fish, and wine, according to Mayo Clinic, it also calls for a reduction in saturated fat and trans fat, as Harvard Health Publishing notes. Even if you aren't in those groups, you may find fasting isn't for you because you get headaches, feel cranky, are low on energy, or get constipated. You might think that fasting is a quick way to drop pounds. They’re convenient and take the guesswork out of dieting. Those have unsaturated fats -- polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats, specifically. Instead, the diet relies on popular anti-inflammatory foods like wild-caught salmon, blueberries, leafy greens and nuts. The Paleo concept of going grain-free can be greatly beneficial, as you strip away nutritionally bankrupt, starchy calories that spike insulin levels and instead usually replacing with more vegetables. (You’ll want to also avoid most processed foods to achieve fat loss results.) Simply swap out meat, fish, etc. for clean proteins like legumes, lentils, quinoa, etc. several times per week or more. With every meal you’ll want to incorporate 1–2 palm-sized portions of protein, such as fish or meat. “Make half your plate vegetables, a quarter of your plate whole grains, and a quarter of your plate lean protein. By choosing options such as sharp cheddar over mild cheddar, you can use less, but you’ll still get a lot of flavor without feeling like you’re on a diet.” Research shows that the benefits of fasting — like a potential decrease in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol — typically disappear when the fast is over. — Angela Lemond, RDN, a registered dietitian-nutritionist in private practice in Texas If those meals are important parts of your social life, then intermittent fasting may not work for you. Only eating during a short window often means skipping breakfast or dinner. Intermittent fasting also may cause people to feel very tired and dizzy. But the long-term health effects of intermittent fasting aren't clear. This diet is fairly flexible because it allows for a variety of foods and flavors, making it adaptable to different preferences and lifestyles. This diet places an emphasis on whole, unprocessed foods, which can be more satisfying and filling than processed foods, help reduce cravings, and make it easier to stick to the diet long-term. The flexitarian diet is mostly plant-based but allows for occasional meat and animal products. Plant-based foods are often less expensive than animal products, making this diet cost-effective as well. With so many plant-based options available, you can create diverse and satisfying meals.