4 Popular Weight Loss Plans, and What They Can Do for You

Maintaining a healthy weight is the key to wellness. As we’ve previously discussed in our article 4 Tips to a Healthy Life, it is thus crucial to exercise regularly to improve muscle weight, and also consume nutritious foods that can energize and nourish our bodies.

However, not all paths to weight loss are the same. There are different weight loss plans popularized by celebrities, doctors, and fitness experts. As long as you select the right one for your body and lifestyle, these plans can streamline your progress toward a healthy weight loss journey. Below, let’s take a closer look at four of the most well-known plans for losing weight.

Atkins 40 diet

This program was developed in the 1970s by American cardiologist Robert Atkins. Atkins posited that a limited-carbs diet was the secret to controlling insulin levels and stimulating ketosis. This diet restricts carbohydrate intake to as little as 15–20g per day during the induction phase. This way, an individual’s body metabolism switches from burning glucose as fuel to burning stored body fat.

Dieters following the Atkins 40 can eat as much fat and protein as they want. By avoiding refined carbs and foods with high sugar content, Atkins 40 can also prevent related health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The low-carb approach will then provide optimal weight loss results within 12 months of practice.

Personalized weight plans

Many may find it difficult to restrict their intake of a specific nutrient, and low-carb approaches have been found by some to cause changes in their gut bacteria. For that reason, many experts would encourage following a diet that is custom-made for your body.

Personalized plans consider an individual’s lifestyle, budget, and unique medical history. WeightWatchers offers personalized weight loss plans crafted with the help of registered dieticians, who even consider an individual’s personal taste preferences. This makes weight loss a fun and exciting journey, which can motivate an individual to stay consistent.

Personalized weight plans can also be customized to fit your specific goals and timetables. WeightWatchers endorser Jessica Simpson followed a four-month plan to drop 60 lbs after the birth of her first daughter, while WeightWatchers shareholder Oprah Winfrey would lose 40 lbs over the course of a year — all the while still eating her favorite bread.

Master cleanse

The master cleanse was heavily sensationalized after world-famous recording artist Beyoncé swore by the lemonade diet. By restricting herself to fresh-pressed juices made from vegetables, fruit, and the occasional spices, she claims to have shed 20 lbs in only two weeks, just in time for her 2006 role in “Dreamgirls.”

Many followers of the diet thus promote the cleanse as a quick but short-term solution, which can also serve to detox the body after a bad-eating binge. This can be helpful for when you are in a rush to lose weight for an event or occasion.

However, experts caution that everybody’s body is different. Cleanses can lead to nutritional deficiencies, and the user is likelier to gain the weight right back as the body rebounds from the lack of nutrition.

Intermittent fasting (IF)

Fasting has been believed to combat several kinds of illnesses since the time of the Ancient Greeks. However, this method has been equated to an efficient weight loss program in recent years.

Here, dieters aren’t restricted by intake but by time. Psychotherapist Jayne Leonard details 7 Ways to Do IF: from fasting for 12 hours, which can stimulate ketosis like the Atkins 40, to fasting during alternate days. This is great for users who struggle with limiting themselves from their favorite foods, and when done correctly, IF programs can even promote autophagy.

It’s important to consult your healthcare provider before embarking on any weight loss program. After losing weight safely, one can secure a healthier life for the years to come.