Is There an Easy Diet to Follow?

The answer to this question probably lies in how you choose to define "easy". Does easy mean easy to follow instructions? Does easy mean the changes in your daily eating habits to lose weight are relatively effortless? Whether you plan to diet for a fairly short term or make life style changes leading to permanent weight loss will also define what is easy for you.

If your definition of an easy diet to follow is one with simple instructions, than any number of fad diets qualify, such as low calorie, low carbohydrate, low fat, low sodium, or low cholesterol. The idea behind these types of diets is that a single element - calories, carbohydrates, fats - is the cause of weight gain and by reducing the intake of the culprit you will lose weight rapidly. Will you lose weight rapidly on one of these diets? Initially at least, probably. Will you keep the weight off long term? Probably not. These diets are such a radical departure from most peoples' eating styles that they are difficult to sustain for any length of time.

If an easy diet to follow for you means relatively effortless weight loss, then you should investigate a plan that promotes portion control or calorie shifting. By simply limiting the portions you eat and making no other changes in your life style, you will lose weight. Depending on how much you limit your portions will determine the rate at which you lose weight. Small changes in portion sizes will result in small weight loss over time. The weight won't come off quickly, but the upside is that as you become accustomed to smaller portions, you are less likely to backslide and the weight you lose will not be gained back.

The idea behind calorie shifting is that by shifting the types of calories you eat at different times of day, you can trigger a metabolic response in your body that will result in rapid weight loss. You eat the foods you want and your quantities are not limited. The main restriction is you may only eat certain types of foods at certain times of the day. Initial weight loss can be rapid as your body adjust to your new eating style, and the weight loss may be permanent because you are less likely to backslide.

Remember that with dieting, as with many things in life, "easy" is a relative term. Some diets are easier to implement than others, but all require a level of commitment and effort on the part of the dieter. So when you look for an easy diet to follow, ask yourself if you will be capable of following through with the diet day in and day out. If the answer is yes, then that is the easy to follow diet for you.