In today’s world, diets have become a way of life. Popular diets have become the focus of talk shows, magazines, and entertainment news where celebrities and their spokespeople continually endorse one diet or another. Whether it is to lose a few kilos, gain additional muscle mass or simply stay in shape, each person is looking for the diet that best suits their body type.

Contrary to popular belief, a ‘diet’ isn’t all about eating celery sticks, digestive biscuits and drinking carrot juice all day. In fact, a healthy meal that combines fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, cereals, and lean meats, all in moderation, would be considered an ideal diet, as well as a good dietary habit. People lose weight in a few months only to gain it back in a very short time. It has been established that the real secret to losing weight and keeping it off is to make some permanent changes to your eating and lifestyle habits.

The food you eat is influenced by several factors including how hungry you are, how long it’s been since you last ate, the smell and taste of food, as well as the genetics that shape your appetite. Perhaps the most important is the feeling of satisfaction one gets after eating. You only feel full when your stomach sends the necessary signals to your brain. However, satisfaction does not depend only on how much you eat, but on what types of foods you choose to eat.

Although most people tend to overlook it, a healthy diet is a matter of common sense. When you’re really looking to lose a few pounds, aside from sacrificing excess fried foods and desserts, all you need to do is eat a few calories per gram of food eaten. Fruits, vegetables, soups, stews or whole grains are some examples of this type of food. They’re full of fiber and high in water content, which not only gives you your share of nutrients, but also leaves you feeling full without breaking the calorie bank.

There are several different types of diets to suit individual needs. The most popular are:

Atkins – The Atkins Diet, while extremely popular, is a departure from the conventional. Instead of emphasizing the inclusion of a combination of different types of foods that normally make up a healthy and balanced diet, the Atkins approach aims to eat more protein, fat and reduce carbohydrates. Although it represents a drastic change in lifestyle, you can eat as much as you want as long as you stick to the restricted food groups. The diet has been shown to be very effective and has helped people achieve their weight loss goals, but whether it is a healthy long-term option has yet to be determined.

Jenny Craig – The Jenny Craig diet offers much more than a simple weight loss program by including exercise, healthy eating and lifestyle changes. With lots of support, she instills advice and prepared meals into her diet. Also, in addition to home-prepared meals, she also offers vegetarian options. However, it may not be suitable for frequent travelers and those who are cost conscious, as buying prepared meals on a daily basis can get expensive. However, she advocates moving away from the prepared meal option after initially predicted weight loss results.

Area It is similar to the Atkins diet in that it emphasizes higher protein intake and fewer carbohydrates. However, compared to Atkins, you can eat higher amounts of carbohydrates with smaller portions. It is a more balanced approach and even allows the intake of vegetables. However, for people who like larger portions, variety, and flexibility in their diets, the Zone can be restrictive.

NutriSystems– The NutriSystems is an easy-to-follow plan that focuses on a low glycemic index, good carbohydrates, and optimal amounts of protein to keep your blood sugar levels stable and aims to keep you satisfied. The plan offers a NutriSystem meal, prepackaged and delivered per order that complements different foods such as fresh fruits, salads, dairy, etc.

checkweigher– The Weight Watchers Diet believes that diet is a part of long-term weight control. It doesn’t tell people what they can or can’t eat. The goal is to help people make healthy eating choices and encourage them to enjoy more physical activity, thereby safely and sensibly losing weight and keeping it off. Provides information on food options, recipes and meals, as well as exercise plans. It has an online support network and a weight loss log and progress chart to keep you motivated.

South Beach– The South Beach diet is more like the Atkins diet and restricts carbohydrates except for some good carbohydrates that are allowed. What is an absolute no-no are types of food such as potatoes, fruits, bread, cereals, rice, pasta, beets, carrots and corn. Again it discourages fats but promotes healthy ones. It is a diet for life. Eat normal foods in portions.