What is the Best Diet for You to Lose Weight?

So far, I've lost 80 pounds and have kept it off over the last four years. Although I still have about 30 to go, I still call it a win as I haven't ballooned back to my starting weight.

That's the trick of losing weight and keeping it off: finding a diet plan that works for you over the long term.

There are a vast number of diets on the market today. YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok "influencers" are constantly pushing specific plans, all of which are trying to make money. But the bottom line is that none of these fad diet plans, workout routines, or supplements are going to help if you don't change your mindset about your current lifestyle.

How You Approach the Diet Matters

If you start a diet having a negative view of it, there is a good chance that it won't work for you. This is because you're already committing your opinion to the negative and are self-sabotaging the experience. Now, a lot of us may do this on a subconscious level, but the truth of the matter is that your view of any diet plan is going to affect your results.

This doesn't mean that if you hate the keto diet that it will fail for you immediately. It just means that if you're negative about the diet, it will influence your behavior and reduce the chances of it working for you.

Is the new diet too restrictive? You're more likely to "cheat." Are you allergic to things like nuts? Something like the keto or paleo diet may hinder your progress.

There are a lot of variables to consider when looking for the best diet plans for your specific needs and wants. Not everything is going to work the same for everyone. We are all unique and have a variety of underlying issues that need to be addressed.

For instance, someone prone to hypoglycemia may not fare well on a fasting diet.

Is the New Diet Sustainable?

Something else you need to consider is whether the new diet is sustainable. This means, is it something you can see yourself doing 10 years from now?

That's one of the biggest reasons why many people will lose weight but then pack it back on after the diet is over. They go back to living the same lifestyle that caused them to gain so much weight in the first place.

Changing your eating habits needs to be a life-long adjustment. This doesn't mean that you need to eat like a bird for the rest of your life. But it does mean that you need to curb bingeing on that box of cupcakes from Walmart in one sitting.

I was guilty of this quite often when I weighed 300+ pounds. I would sit at my desk all day and just pound those suckers down, often in one sitting.

You don't have to stick to a strict diet plan to keep the weight off, though. You can simply incorporate what you've learned about yourself during the main diet into your daily routine.

Case in point, I often prefer snacks perfect for the keto diet throughout the day simply because I like the taste. Instead of carb and sugar-rich cookies, I'll tap a fruit and nut mix.

I lost 80 pounds while still eating the same junk I had before. The biggest difference is that I now eat far less of it and keep myself active.

Are You Active Enough?

Speaking of being active, getting off your butt and moving is a sure-fire way to get healthier and burn fat. The level of cardio you'll need to lose a certain amount of weight will vary from one person to the next. But you need to find something that you enjoy that will increase your heart rate.

You'll also need a diet that will support an active lifestyle. For example, as I mentioned earlier, those who are prone to hypoglycemia would have an incredibly difficult time staying active on something like intermittent fasting.

I can afford a few more carbs than most diets because I try to keep myself moving all day long. In other words, I wind up burning everything I consume and then some.

The point is that you'll need to find a diet that works with the level of activity you want to include. But remember, this activity needs to be sustainable if you want to maintain a healthier frame.

For example, I love the idea of being able to lift heavier objects, climb hills without getting winded, ride my bike for longer than 10 minutes, and have the energy to completely clean my house.

Fitness goes way beyond just slimming down and showing off your abs. There are a lot of benefits that are practical for losing weight and improving your physical fitness.

So, What is the Best Diet for Losing Weight?

I know you're probably looking for an easy answer. But in reality, the best diet plan for losing weight is whatever works best for you.

As I said, we are all unique and have varying wants and needs. This includes the impact of eating and exercise. Not everyone is looking for the same results, and not everyone will have the same experience with every diet plan on the market.

Some people swear by keto, while others relish in paleo. My diet consists of burning twice as much as I eat while tracking data from Fitbit and MyFitnessPal.

It all comes down to what you view as the best routine for your specific situation.

This means you'll need to try a few and get a feel for how they work. Now, the best way to do this is to approach it with an open mind and try to keep an objective view. Remember, having a negative opinion before even trying it is going to influence how successful you are on that diet.

Just keep in mind that the best diet is one that you can either keep doing or incorporate over the long term. Otherwise, you might just gain all that weight back without making some drastic changes.

No, You Don't NEED Supplements

Now, I wanted to throw this in here because I see a lot of ads on YouTube for weight loss supplements. And some of them really rank up there on the cringe meter.

Most of these companies and influencers are going to try to make you feel like you absolutely need their product to lose weight. They often tap into the emotional parts of your brain to elicit the response they want, which is geared to prompt you to make a purchase.

Don't get me wrong, there are a few products that may assist and give you that edge to lose more weight. But remember that these people care more about making a profit than actually helping you. Otherwise, those products would cost far less. Not to mention most of the products I come across are unnecessary.

Remember the adage, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."

It All Comes Down to Your Perception of Food

In the end, finding the best diet plans center around how you view food and if they're sustainable for the long term. Losing weight and becoming healthier are life-long decisions. Well, that is if you plan to keep the weight off.

Find something that fits the lifestyle you want and your physical requirements.