Okay. I know what you must be thinking, “Diet? You want me to go on a diet?” Nope. (I almost said “Yes. April Fool’s!” because I am super mature like that.)
I just thought these ideas of a certain way to eat (aka diets) were fascinating and you guys might think so too. I originally turned this guest post down because it was about diets and I tend to be so anti-diet that I don’t even think about the real meaning of the word.
I realized that a “diet” isn’t just to lose weight. It’s a way to eat (hopefully a balanced approach like these three) to make you feel healthy and good about your body.
Everyone is different.
What works for you might not work for me. I require cookies on a weekly basis. You might need a steak or fries that often to feel happy about life.
For the record, the diet I am on is one where I notice what makes me feel good, what makes me feel bad, what tastes delicious and when the yummy and feel-bad categories mix…when it’s worth it to just go for it anyways. (Sometimes I do wake up with sugar hang-overs. Sometimes it’s worth it.)
If you ever decide to change your eating habits, please do so to nourish your body, not to starve yourself for a trim waistline. Think long-term health and happiness, not instant mirror gratification. 
Note: this is a paid guest post. I was compensated for my time and blog space, but as always, I approve the message (‘cuz it’s my blog!). See more about my guest posting here.
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3 Diet Plans That Help You Maintain a Healthy Weight
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Eating a balanced diet, following a nutritious eating regimen and being physically dynamic is the most ideal approach to stay healthy and fit. To keep up a stable weight, your vital intake needs to balance the energy you utilize.
If weight loss is not achieved in a healthy, phased out and controlled manner, it will be harmful to health. Depriving your body of essential nutrients can lead to deficiencies, poor immunity and fatigue. Unplanned dieting also results in mood swings, irritability and hormonal fluctuations. (Amanda chiming in to say: this is called “hanger” or hunger + anger. No bueno. 
) Hence, it is essential to follow a balanced diet approach and eating healthy.
For instance, if you choose a scientifically-formulated and well-planned diet plan that will furnish all the necessary nutrients while cutting down on calories, you are well on your way to attain a healthier and fit body.
With the multitude of diet plans available for you to choose from, it is no surprise that you are confused. If you are not that “Super-quick weight loss” person and want to see the long-term results there is a plan out there for you.
Here we evaluate some of the popular options. Hope this will help you in making up your mind about how you should work towards a fitter body.
1) Biggest Loser Diet
The Biggest Loser Diet plan if followed diligently will help you knock off a few pounds without compromising on nutrition. Contestants have reduced weight by almost 32% following the diet. In case of obese participants, there has been a visible weight loss in the first year.
Biggest Loser Diet helps you lose weight quickly, in 30 days or in 6 months. But, as we would like to see long term results, books and plans are available which can help you manage weight in long-term resulting into a naturally fit body.
The Biggest Loser diet follows basic rules and practices to ensure overall health and well-being. You need to eat meals regularly. Five meals and a dessert in controlled portions are recommended that will help you feel full, are nutrient-dense and low in calories. Exercise is crucial to the success of the plan, so make sure you get moving every day.
Of your daily calorie requirement, 30% must come from proteins, 25% from fats and 45% from carbohydrates. The daily diet comprises of four servings of fruits and vegetables, three servings of protein foods and two of whole grains. Sugar and processed food intake is restricted to a maximum of 200 calories per day.
Biggest Loser diet plan makes it mandatory to maintain a food journal. You need to keep tab on what you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your mid-morning and evening snacks also need to be tracked and jotted down. This will help you know of the times you cheated and when you refused to give in to cravings. (and if you do “cheat,” your life will not end FYI. make sure you think of this in a balanced way, not obsessively.) You become more accountable and aware of your eating habits.
Biggest Loser cookbooks and guides provide you with plenty of options to keep things interesting, delicious and healthy at the table. Fresh veggies, whole grains, fruits and fish are expensive, but you save on membership fees and can tailor the diet to suit your needs.
2) Raw Food Diet
Raw Food diet aims to bring food nutrients in their natural state to your plate. If you choose to follow this plan you will have to give up on processed food, sugars and other store-bought treats at large, but that doesn’t mean you should stop eating them.
Raw food is not cooked, microwaved, irradiated or exposed to harmful pesticides or chemical treatments. Fresh and raw veggies and fruits provide you with nutrients and help you feel full on lower calorie count.
You can also have dried organic lentils and whole grains eaten raw. Fans of Raw Food diet prefer to use cold-pressed olive oil and other virgin oils that are not processed or chemically refined. Raw almond butter and coconut butter can also be consumed. You can have fresh fruit and veggie juices sweetened naturally, and herbal beverages.
Raw food is very low in fats and carbs, and the rich fiber content in veggies and fruits satiate you on lesser calories. Raw Food diet encourages you to go vegan where you solely depend on healthy plant-based foods and shun seafood, animal and animal-sourced products like eggs and milk to a larger extent.
Vegan meals provide complete nutrition without piling on calories, and meal delivery plans like FreshnLean help bring tasty fare to your doorstep every day.
If vegan is not your thing you can have a more varied diet choosing to eat certain varieties of meat and fish that can be eaten raw. Raw and un-pasteurized milk and milk products, eggs and sashimi can also be consumed.
Raw Food diet is not recommended for infants or children. Also, it is not recommended you follow a strict Raw Food diet for long-term. But incorporating healthy raw veggies and fruits in your daily diet coupled with regular exercise will help you achieve your goal weight in a short span of time.
3) Volumetric Diet
Volumetric Diet helps you consume a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, veggies and whole grains, but low in processed foods and salt. The fiber-dense and nutritious diet keeps you full for longer and successfully curbs your pangs for unhealthy processed snacks.
Volumetric Diet works on the principle that food can be categorized according to their energy or calorie-density. Carrots carry fewer calories per gram as compared to peanuts. To feel satiated you have to eat the same amount of food, so fill up your plate with low density food to stay full on fewer calories.
The plan divides food in to three categories: the first category has very low energy density (calorie density) foods like non-starchy fruits and veggies and fat-free dairy products.
The second category has low density foods like starchy fruits and veggies, low-fat dairy products, breakfast cereal, whole grains and lean meat.
The third category comprises of medium density foods like pizza, meat, cake, French fries, salad toppings and white bread and the fourth category is of high density foods like baked goodies, butter, chocolate, nuts and oils.
You need to fill up your plate with the first and second category foods and limit your intake of the third and fourth category foods. You can make room for tasty but healthy choices by baking a first category food like sweet potato instead of white potato, topping pizza with veggies or opting for complete fruit spreads on toasts.
Volumetric Diet fills up your tummy on fewer calories and hence promotes weight loss. Combine with regular exercise to drop to the desired dress size.
Conclusion
We are what we eat, and a better diet not only helps you shed weight but also contributes to a healthier mind and a happier you. So choose a diet that suits you and let it work for you.
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[Tweet “3 Diets You Might Want to Check Out (that don’t sacrifice nutrients or happiness) #fitfluential”]
So what do you think? Interesting, yes? Which diet intrigued you the most?
PS make sure you stop by Friday for another round of Did You Know Friday link-ups!
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