How to Choose the Right Diet Plan

Diet plans claim fantastic weight loss in a relatively short amount of time.  While some of these diets have medical validity, the majority do not.  Many diet plans focus on one or a few foods or food groups while limiting or removing all other food for a period of time.  Diet plans, if not medically sound for your body and medical history, should be approached with caution because new fad diets emerge almost daily. 

Before you choose a diet plan, talk with your doctor or dietitian, read the website, reviews, and make sure it is safe.

The different diet plans out there

      - Detox diets.  These diets are used to clean the body.  While these diets can be beneficial, medical guidance is important to make sure that it’s safe for your body.

      - Diets for medical reasons.  There are many diets for specific medical needs.  For example, celiac disease requires a gluten free diet and lactose intolerance requires a lactose free diet.  If you believe you have a medical condition that requires a specific diet, consult your doctor and do not self-diagnose because it’s very easy to misdiagnose yourself. 

      - Fad diets.  Fad diets just follow a popular trend and they generally have little scientific or medical backing.  Too often the weight lost in this type of diet is quickly gained back in a short amount of time.

      - Low calorie diets.  Low calorie diet plan focus on limiting the daily caloric intake of the participant.  Some of these diets are as extreme as only allowing participants 800 calories a day.  This diet can be very effective for some but caution must be taken and medical guidance is highly suggested. 

      - Low carb diets.  Low carb diets focus on limiting carbohydrate consumption by limiting fruits, vegetables, milk, grains and nuts.  These diets are typically high in protein and meats.  Additionally, low carb diets claim to aid in weight loss and reduce the risk of certain medical conditions such as diabetes.  However, headaches, dizziness, constipation, and fiber deficiency can occur because of low carb diet plans.

      - Low fat diets.  As the name implies, low fat diet plans are focused around limited fat consumption.  To meet your recommended caloric intake, these diets are high in carbohydrates, fiber and protein.  While this diet can be helpful for some weight loss, possible risks include poor absorption of nutrients and greater risk for heart disease. 

      - Mono-diets.  Diets such as the watermelon diet are mono-diets where you can only eat one type of food.  These diets claim a variety of results from detoxification to weight loss.  However, it’s still a good idea to seek approval from your doctor because Mono-diets can lead to vitamin deficiencies and lack of protein along with other complications. 

Select diet plans based on your personal goals and dietary needs and remember to seek medical or dietary guidance before starting any new dietary regiment. 

If you’re looking for something fast and convenient without the hassle of going to the grocery store, bistroMD offers a diet delivery program that can help you develop healthy eating habits and lose weight. We cook with the freshest ingredients and have over 200 recipes and a customizable menu so even the pickiest eaters can find something delicious to eat.

We have a men and a women’s program with the option to receive five-or-seven-days’ worth of healthy meals delivered to your door. The seven day option comes with the My Night feature, your one night where you can eat whatever you want.

The two programs range from $130-$160 and EATS, our essential and tasty snacks are just $1.50 per snack. Women receive two snacks per day and men receive three snacks per day.

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