The holy grail of diet plans - the meal plan that is perfect for you.

I want diet plans that are guaranteed to make me lose weight ! So all I have to do is follow them and the kilos will drop off.

By Jenny Mathers. Fitness & Personal Training Cert. IV
Reviewed by Kimberly Tessmer, RD LD on 11th June 2009.

Unfortunately, it isn't that simple and despite the fact that almost every single eating plan on the market has testimonial evidence to back its claims up, no single meal plan is going to be perfect for you.

If you're smart, you're going to have to do your homework to find YOUR holy grail of diet plans.

What to look for in your ideal meal plan.

There are so many different diet trends - low GI, nutritionally balanced, low calorie and low fat diets. I don't have to tell you that you can find some weird and wonderful ones on the internet. There are so many of them, all of them claiming to be the new true way to solve your weight loss problems. When you're looking for a diet plan, think about how it stacks up to the following:

offers sufficient balance and a variety of carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals sourced from all the food groups that is fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grain cereals, dairy, meat & nuts and a small amount of good fats.
conforms with the new food pyramid;
does not exclude one particular food group, and encourage excessive consumption of another;
fits into your lifestyle;
encourages exercise to complement sensible eating habits;
encourages awareness of portion sizes;
does not encourage unrealistic quick weight loss;
is not based on one research paper usually involving a small sample size and funded by the company promoting the weight loss plan.

What questions should I ask ?

When you are on the verge of trying a particular meal plan, or maybe you've just finished reading the latest diet book - what should you do then ?

Ask a couple of questions:

Who devised this meal plan ?
Does this person have recognised qualifications in dietetics and nutrition, or does this person have a degree in a discipline other than nutrition ?
Does this plan offer a quick weight loss solution ?
Does the plan claim to have the secret to weight loss.

Where to get YOUR diet plans

A diet plan really is just a plan of the kinds of foods you should be eating to ensure that you will lose weight. If you want a diet plan you need to consult a registered dietitian in your area. Find one here if you're in the US and one here if you live in Australia. (I know, I know, there are a lot of you from Malaysia, Singapore, India, Italy, the UK. Sorry, but I'd be here forever. Look up the peak organisation for Dietitians in your country and I'm sure they'll have something similar.) You could also try some online dietitians.

A dietitian will look at your nutritional, medical and lifestyle needs and design an eating plan around those needs. Like personal trainers, they are instrumental in motivating, educating and guiding you on the often frustrating road of weight loss.

I know what you're going to say, but that's boring and .... expensive. Well it may be boring, but it's definitely better than betting your health on a diet plan that is completely wrong for you.

If you're worried about the expense of consulting with a dietitian - in many cases it is going to be less expensive in the long term when you try a fad weight loss solution, fail and then try another one. Inevitably, you will end up spending a lot more money than if you had consulted a dietitian who makes recommendations based upon what is proven to work.

Where to find more information

Look up the Dietitians Association of Australia, try the virtual grocery store game.

Go to the American Dietetic Association, look up these great fact sheets. Of special note are those facts sheets on popular diets and foods that help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

The Practical Weight Loss Crowd Poll Question #1
If you've experienced a weight loss plateau, how did you keep positive » Register free and read more / view comments

Relaxation

Talked to a friend

Used non-food rewards

Tried a supplement

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