What diet works best?

[glamourshot]

I've tried every non-fad diet (South Beach, no thank you). Even eating in moderation doesn't help me put off the lbs. Just wondering what tips or tricks you might have to share. Does packing food on weekends for the rest of the week work for limiting the amount of junk you consume? Is it better to turn vegetarian or pescatarian? I eat meat maybe twice a week at best, so might as well cut it out all-together! I don't know, at my wits end on this issue and the last thing I want to do is starve myself for the sake of fitting in the maid of honor dress.

[SixStringSeal]

I've never gained a pound though what I do is fairly simple. It's about the quality of the food you choose to eat, not the types. You should have tons of variety in your diet if you want to feel and look your best. I just follow a few rules that I've learned about and stuck to over the years.

Fiber is god. Especially berries and high fiber cereals.

Don't buy anything that's labeled "low fat". Low fat generally means high sugar.

Most fruits and veggies should be bought organic and as fresh as possible.

Don't buy anything that comes in a can.

Don't buy "heavily" processed foods.

Don't eat right before you go to bed.

Red meats should only be consumed no more than twice a week.

Beef should be free-range and grass fed.

Lean protein is best.

Protein should ALWAYS be labeled "nitrate-free".

Don't buy anything that contains fructose syrup, high fructose corn syrup, or any close variation of that word. Really. It's in everything and you'll never lose the weight eating it. The body doesn't metabolize it well.

Don't buy anything that contains the word "mono-sodium glutimate".

Soda is about the worst thing you can put in your body. This is rule #1.

Eat yogurt. Not fat free. It contains CLA which helps prevents fat cells from getting larger. (as does red meat)

Fish is amazing for you, it's rich in Omega-3's, especially salmon. It should be eaten multiple times a week if you can but only buy wild-caught fish.

There is much more but you can learn them over time if you choose.

Believe me, once you change the way you look at food you'll never have to diet again. You'll look great and most importantly you'll feel amazing and healthy. Living a long and happy life is what counts.

[kewkewsie]

why not fat free yogurt?

[SixStringSeal]

I would consider yogurt one of the best things to include in your diet. CLA, probiotics, calcium, it's got it all. Multiple studies have linked yogurt to weight-loss and improved overall health. It's just that "generally" the fat-free stuff can't compare to the more natural, less refined stuff (when it comes to healthy ingredients).

Never shop looking for "fat-free" in my opinion. Look at sugar content instead. Sugar is what puts on the pounds and fat-free generally has more of it!

[WoIIie]

The truth is, there is no real answer.

You have to try certain diets out and see what works for you. Invent your own diet that revolves around healthy foods you enjoy. It took me several years of trial and error before throwing out the notion that a predetermined diet is going to help me.

Find healthy foods that you enjoy and eat lots of them.

[candlewax]

Are you even exercising? You failed to mention it, so if you're just doing diet only, you aren't going to lose that weight very well.

Exercise + eating in moderation is what will help you lose weight. Increase fruit and veggie intake, try to eat more whole foods and cut back on processed foods.

Yo-yoing around with the starving bs and cutting out an entire food group all together is just going to mess your body's metabolism up and you're bound to gain MORE weight at some point because it's going "wtf is going on? STARVATION MODE!"

[Wtfgirl]

My diet isn't really a diet. It's a way of life. I eat at least five meals everyday. That's a light breakfast, a snack bar, light lunch, fruit, diner, and another snack item and sometimes desert.

[kheserthorpe]

I've never lost weight faster then on a protein-sparing-modified fast, which for the record, involved eating (for me) meat at _every meal_. But I was well under 1000 calories/day most days of the week.

If you're interested in doing one, I'd recommend Lyle Macdonald's 'rapid fat loss handbook' which you can get electronically.

The lower you cut your calories, the higher proportion should come from protein.

[candlewax]

Omg I can't believe you're promoting a calorie consumption below 1000 a day. That's terrible!

[funkadelic5]

@candlewax

No he's right. Lyle Mcdonald is a pro. Average consumerist bullsh*t that tells you that you need to earn more is a load of nonsense.

[candlewax]

Oh yeah, RDs are total consumerists. This dude you speak of doesn't even have a degree in nutrition, nor is he a doctor. A kines degree touches minimally on nutrition. You get maybe one or two courses in the topic. That does NOT make him a pro. Sounds like a total scam to me. 1000kcals is not very healthy, combined with exercise. That's the first and foremost they teach you when you get a kines degree.

[kheserthorpe]

That diet is a short term and frankly he doesn't advise it, he just says if you're going low, this is how you do it ;)

I've used it, and I'm a 6'3 male.

That book also contains an excellent section on 'moving to maintenance'.

Personally I find it a lot easier to start with a diet like that and add 1000 calories of crap back in then start with a typical crap diet and cut it back.

My point is not so much that sub 1k is ideal ...

[kheserthorpe]

My point was mainly that the QAs protein was likely WAY too low, and cutting more meat would be stupid. You can eat tons of meat and be low calorie and get far better results then some stupid juice cleanse.

[jimmy217]

diets don't work for most ppl. And most relapse and end up gaining more weight. Just eat healthy and exercise. No need to cut somthing completly from your diet

[RedThread78]

For me I lost a lot of weight just running miles and doing great cardio. I also would do like 100 push ups and sit ups every night. As for the diet I would indulge in fruits and vegetables.

[paigems]

Only eat complex carbs, and eat them in moderation (once a day). Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and lots of proteins. Exercise is good too :)

[FierceMegan]

moderate your portions, lots of water, and exercise (cardio & strength training)

[martyfellow]

Only the one that you have support for, from friends or professionals like Weight Watchers.

[Anonymous]

Well you don't like south beach, but realistically those Ketosis based diets (Atkins, South each, etc) do work the best for losing fat weight.

[somethinspecial]

eat in moderation and do a lot of cardio. cut out sugars, and eat lots of veggies

[Caustic_Fox]

low carb, high fat high protein

no processed foods

[Apodyopsis]

The one that becomes a lifestyle. (and is healthy)

[Pedrodestructo]

You need to eat more fruit