Fit Fact: Any diet can help you lose weight
There are so many diets out there, it's easy to feel overwhelmed with the choices. Should you eat low fat or low carb? How much protein should you eat? Do you even need to go on a diet to lose weight? Which one really works?
The truth is, any diet will help you lose weight as long as you're eating fewer calories than you're burning, a theory explored in a recent study called Pounds Lost.
In this study, researchers chose four different heart-healthy diets to find out which one would elicit the most weight loss after six months. All of the diets included the same number of calories (1400-2000 calories), but differed in how much fat, protein and carbs were in each one. After 6 months, all the participants lost weight regardless of diet, with the average about 13 pounds lost. (Note: They also exercised for at least 90 minutes each week and received group diet counseling)
What's interesting about this is that, first, it shows there is no "perfect diet" - if you cut your calories, you'll lose weight. The real question isn't about the perfect diet, but the perfect diet for you. The only diet that works is the one you can follow - meaning, it fits your likes and dislikes, it fits your goals and you can follow it without feeling deprived or going completely insane.
For many of us, that means not following a specific diet, but doing what we can to watch our portion sizes, eat balanced meals and load up on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. For some people, that means following something more structured to keep them on track.
I'm curious about you. Are you currently following a diet? Or maybe you've tried diets over the years and have learned something from your experiences. Either way, leave a comment and tell us about your diet (or non-diet) experiences. Tell us what works for you and why.
More About Dieting
Currently eating 3-5 times a day only when I’m hungry and keeping to around 100-250cal per meal and 300cal for breakfast, lunch, dinner.
I believe its working, I’ve been following a low carb, low fat, high fibre and high protein diet for a few months and I’ve lost 5kg
i quit eating fast food and added salads. work out 3 x’s a week and have lost 7lbs.
If you eat less calories regardless of food or diet, you will lose weight. Eat 4 Mcdonalds hamburgers per day, you will lose weight.
I am a weight watcher member. I can eat anything I want which is good cuz I’m a pickey eater. It is all about portion control and activity. I know this is a life style change and not something short term where you lose the weight and go back to old habits which never works.
For me, never skipping breakfast, no snacking between meals and limiting calorie intake to about 1500 calories a day has always worked. Whenever I deviate from that I gain. As soon as I go back, I start to lose weight and keep it off. I can eat almost any type of food as long as I limit total intake to 1500. And I also allow myself a “fun” day where I eat as much as I want without worrying.I also exercise about 3 times a week, too.
I use http://www.fitday.com to track my calories, activities, weight loss, and measurements. I’ve lost about 10 lbs. in 3 months. Having to “answer” to the website – seeing the calories in front of me – helps me make good choices.
I found this great website….sparkpeople. It is free online diet program and there are wonderful supportive people on it.
I’ve been sticking close to a 1500 calorie diabetic diet since Feb 13, 2009 and have lost 21 lbs as of today (Mar 27) I’ve been exercising…sometimes walking, Sweatin to the oldies, dancing or yard work. I have more energy, I sleep better and I’m always on the more now.
I started the South Beach Diet back in November and have lost almost 30 pounds. I exercise 5 or 6 days a week and its worked well for me. I stopped eating junk food, well, except in moderation and cutout sodas completely. The energy I now have is amazing, I wish I would have done it sooner.
It is all about calories in, calories out. Watch what you eat, count calories at first to see what your intake is. Then adjust to loose weight then re balance to maintain weight along with exercise. This also allows for occasional party, holiday treats.
For a couple years I have been writing down what I eat and I weigh every day. I have what I call reverse anorexia. I never notice I am gaining and am a master self deceiver. Doing those two things is now second nature to me and it keeps me honest with myself.
As far as diet goes – I have never been a fast foodie so that was not an issue. I have a portion control problem and a grazing problem (hence the writing it down – every bite). I try to watch the fat and calories so when a fun food/drink day comes I do not have to be all freaky about it. I just eat and drink whatever I want that day.
I have effectively stopped the massive yo yo-ing that I had been doing all my life.
I’ll be 34 in a few weeks and have had 3 kids. I used to be one of those skinny people, and still am, except I put on 20 lbs last year. My doc noticed (even though I’m not over-weight, you’ll get tired of hearing that). I found that after I sold my house and moved to an apartment I put on weight. Also am a grazer. D’oh. It’s hard to lose weight!!!!! At least I know why now.
Last spring i started at 197 lbs and was eating every sweet thing i came across. I was fed up by the time July hit and I decide to diet. I cut sugur completely out of my diet and counted calories staying at 1500 a day. Sometimes a little less. I also walked for 1 hour every day which was around 3 miles. I started out at 1.5 miles in the beginning. I was very determined. By September I was down to 157 pounds. The weight litteraly fell off of me! I however Stoped exercising, and staterd eating what i wanted again and put almost all of it back on. I am up to 183 pounds and beginning this diet again today. This time I am making it a life change and not just a diet.
I know from my own experience that walking much is great in losing weight. Besides consider not to eat anything after 7 p.m.Keep a healthy diet and you’ll gain your desired result.
I’ve tried a bunch of hyped products, and attempted several fad diets in the past. What i’ve learned overall, is that any diet can help you lose weight, just like this article talks about. I’ve come to view diets as a strategy and a tool. The meanings we put, towards our goals is the true key, and the fuel for action. One of my closest friends is doing an awesome job, losing 30 lbs since Feb 09. She is on Twitter, so she tweet’s everytime she is finished with one of her workouts. She’s so focused because what it means, is being in the best shape of her life by her wedding day this summer…
As for me, I am going to be the best man, and I’m inspired and motivated for similar reasons. What are your meanings for getting in shape? I’ve also had the most success utilizing “calorie shifting” in my diet plan, and I’m journaling my progress and weigh in’s on youtube and my blog. I cant stress enough how much it helps to stay focused, knowing that you have “followers” and friends keeping tabs on you. We only have one life to live, and how we treat our bodies today will affect the quality of our lives today and onward. What are your meanings for getting in shape?
i have read through your messages and its uplifting, my doctor put me on a 1200 a day calorie controlled diet and i was getting a little worried.
i managed to have around 800 or calories in one day and decided to treat myself to a bag of crisps and a 2 small chocolate bars that brought me up to 1200 but when i mentioned this to friends i got told that that is wrong!
i assumed that since i kept to the 1200 limit anything is ok?