Esta Morenikeji: The Best diet plan for weight loss (Y! Superblogger)

by Esta Morenikeji

Esta Morenikeji Superblogger

While some of the claims by the promoters of these diets may be legitimate, no food in its original form is bad.  However, it is how we process and prepare our foods that make them good or bad for us.

The other day I was researching weight loss programs in Nigeria and came across a few ridiculous diet plans. Diet plans come in all forms and kinds. Some are good for you and sensible, while others are way too extreme. The individual promoters of these diet programs claim their program is the best thing that has ever happened to the weight loss industry, with heavy infomercials showing “scientific studies” to back up their claims.

Many of these diet plans only produce short term results that keep a dieter in yo-yo cycle. But there are diet plans that have been proven to be effective for long term weight loss. With these kinds of diet plans, you do not only lose weight, but can also maintain the loss.

Before I tell you the best diet plan for weight loss, let me first tell you the plans you should avoid. It is possible that you may have tried one of them at one point or another, or perhaps you are doing one right now, and really believe in its effectiveness.

The Avoid the villain diet: There are different diet plans in this category. What they all have in common is that, they tell you to eliminate a particular food group from your diet. Some claim fat is the enemy and you should stay away from it, and then they proceed to bombard you with all sorts of fat free foods. Others claim carbohydrates are the real enemies that should be avoided at all costs.  So we have different versions of carb-less foods.  Some even say you can eat carbs but it must be from fruits and vegetables only. Grain and grain products are prohibited, because according to this school of thought, the carbs in grains are the real enemy.  And there is another school of thought that claims dairy is the enemy.

While some of the claims by the promoters of these diets may be legitimate, no food in its original form is bad.  However, it is how we process and prepare our foods that make them good or bad for us. Prohibiting the consumption of all grains and grain products because of white bread and pasta, is like throwing the child away with the bad water. And telling people to eat oil free everything because oil is high in calories is also not the answer.

I can boldly tell you that carbs and fats are not the enemies, the real enemy is how you prepare and eat your food.

The very low calorie diet: This is the one that scares me the most. There are different versions of this diet plan.  Some of the plans require a dieter to eat as low as 440 calories per day and the majority of the calories come in liquid form the meal replacement shakes sold by the promoters.

Any diet plan that is below 800 calories per day falls under this category. It is true that a dieter who is able to stick to the program over the stipulated period will lose a significant amount of weight, but the loss is not sustainable in the long term, and the yo-yo cycle is once again created. This type of diet plan can slow down your metabolism, but the most dangerous thing about this very low calorie diet is that, it can push your body into a state where it begins to eat up its own tissues for survival.

Now that I have talked about the diet plans you should avoid, let me tell you the one diet plan you should follow.

The Balanced Diet: This is the real thing! There are many popular weight loss plans that fall into this category. The balanced diet encourages you to make healthy food choices in moderate amounts.  All diet plans in this category allow you to select from whole-grain carbohydrates, lean sources of protein such as legumes, fish and low-fat dairy, and healthy fats, and teach you how to estimate portion sizes and plan meals. There is no requirement to eliminate certain food groups. Moderation is the key word.

The balanced diet also allows you to exercise because it does not make you weak. You are strong and have a lot of energy to carry out your daily activities.

Another plus of the balanced diet is that it is sustainable! It’s an eating pattern that can be maintained for life.

If you don’t want to be a perpetual dieter who loses 5 kilograms today and gains 7 kilograms tomorrow, then I encourage you to choose the balanced diet.

Got a question on how to choose a balanced diet plan that is right for you? Leave your question in the comment box and I’ll answer.

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Esta Morenikeji is a fitness instructor and fitness blogger. Once upon a time she weighed 92kg, now weighing in at 67kg, she teaches people how to lose weight and keep fit in a fun way. She blogs about fitness and weight loss at www.zonefitness.com.ng and tweets from @estamorenikeji

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

One comment

  1. I need help on how to choose a balance diet plan,best for me

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