Diet Plans

Following a structured diet plan can help you reach your weight loss goals but first you need to ask yourself a few questions.

How much weight do you need to lose? Do you just want to lose a few pounds for that special occasion or is your health in danger from being very overweight?

You may need to consult your doctor first if you have any health problems especially if you are very overweight.

Your whole lifestyle should be taken into consideration when going on a diet including building an exercise program into your daily life.

A more muscular and toned body has a higher metabolic rate and burns more calories than a flabby one.

You don't need to join a gym or take up a sport, just walk to the shops instead of taking the car or get off the bus a couple of stops before your destination.

Think about your eating habits. Do you skip breakfast and binge on biscuits mid morning? Eating a healthy breakfast will actually help you lose weight as you won't be tempted to fill up on fatty sugary foods during the day.

Some of the more popular diet plans include the South Beach Diet, Fat Smash Diet, Mediterranean Diet and Atkins Diet.

The South Beach Diet was created by Dr Arthur Agatston a cardiologist who believed that a large consumption of bad fats can increase the risk of heart disease. The South beach diet encourages you to eat good carbs and good fats instead of eliminating them from your diet.

The Mediterranean diet is a very healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, breads, fish and olive oil. Virgin olive oil is often sprinkled liberally onto salads and even on bread in place of butter. There is a lower incidence of heart disease and obesity in the mediterranean countries and life spans may often be longer. Many people in these countries have a much more active lifestyle.

The Atkins Diet was created by Dr Atkins who believed that eating too many refined carbohydrates and sugars is a major factor in weight gain. You are allowed fats including butter and cream on this diet but it can be very limiting in the initial stages.

You are only allowed to eat 20g of carbohydrates a day to start with and this causes the body to burn fats for energy instead of carbohydrates.

The Fat Smash Diet is based on large amounts of fruits and vegetables of which there are no limits on the amount you can eat. They are high in fibre and will make you feel full and less tempted to snack on unhealthy fatty foods. You start of with only fruits and vegetables and gradually introduce more foods into your diet. This is a very healthy diet and high in nutrients.

Green tea has been found to increase your metabolism and oxidise fat. It's used as a weight loss supplement and can be bought in pill form as well as tea bags. It contains large amounts of antioxidants so it's also great at helping to fight and prevent illneses such as colds and flu

Detox diets are designed to cleanse your body eliminating toxins which build up over time. Toxins can be found in the air as well as chemicals hidden in prepared convenience foods. After a few days you will feel energised and any symptoms such as headaches,dull skin, bad breath, constipation and low energy may disappear. Detox diets may also help your body to lose weight more effectively.

You can follow any of these low fat diet plans quite easily from books which will include shopping lists and recipes. You must follow them properly and stick to the foods that are allowed. There are forums you can join where you can talk to others on similar diet plans and exchange stories. This will help to keep you motivated.

Following a diet on your own needs self discipline and you will need to set yourself long and short term goals. You could always teem up with a friend who is also wanting to lose some weight and support each other's successes and failures.

Keep a diary to help you stay on track. You can then monitor your porgress on a daily and weekly progress