The Best Weight Loss Diet Plan

Imagine that the best diet in the world allowed you to eat all of your favourite foods and still lose weight.

Sound too good to be true? Well planning a healthy diet to lose weight should be quick, easy and painless.  You should be allowed to eat a wide range of foods, including some of your favourites. 

Forget trendy diets and expensive diet foods and toss out the idea that diets are all about denial and restriction. A diet plan should suit your lifestyle, be realistic, and tailored to you as an individual.

The Best Weight Loss Diet Plans

Successful slimmers know that the best diet plan to help you lose weight and keep it off is the one which suits you the best.

It should take account of your likes and dislikes, the time you have available and your ultimate goal.  A ‘one size fits all’ diet plan is not going to be effective in the long term especially if it means surviving on bird seed and rabbit food.

Almost any plan with a calorie deficit will allow you to lose weight, although most are not sustainable in the long term if they do not take account of your food preferences, lifestyle and available time.

What Makes a Good Diet Plan?

A good diet plan for weight loss should be effective for the long term and should take a number of factors into account.

• Include foods that you enjoy eating
• Fit into your lifestyle so that you can stick to it easily.
• Be customizable as no diet fits everyone
• Be flexible to account for eating out or a day where you need more treats – birthdays happen!
• Allow for more food (and treats if needed) by taking exercise into account.
• Be varied.  No food should be banned.
• Be healthy and nutritionally balanced.
• Provide support and motivation.
• Log your food as you eat it, so making the most of a food diary and journal.

How To Plan Healthy Eating

Gone are the days of nibbling on a carrot or eating vats of cabbage soup.  The more effective approach to eating healthily means that we are positively encouraged to eat a wide variety of food, including favourites.

As well as helping to lose weight, a healthy diet can boost energy, keep the immune system strong  and improve skin, nails and hair.

Diet Plan Basics

Have at least 3 meals a day and include snacks and treats if you want to.  Stay fuller for longer by including food from the four main food groups and limit fatty, sugary, salty and highly processed foods.  Try to aim for at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Sometimes it’s hard to know what a portion is, so as a guide, you could choose 1 out of each of the following groups.

Bread, cereals, potatoes

(Eat these with every meal.  They also make great snacks)

• 2 slices of bread
• A tennis ball sized serving of pasta, potato, rice, noodles or couscous
• A bowl of porridge
• Around 40g breakfast cereal

Fruit and Vegetables

(Eat at least 5 portions every day)

• A piece of fruit (apple, banana, pear)
• 2 small fruits (satsumas, plums)
• Small glass of fruit juice
• Cereal bowl of salad
• 3 heaped tbsp vegetables

Milk and dairy

(Eat 2 or 3 portions a day)

• 200ml milk
• Small pot yoghurt
• Matchbox sized piece of cheese

Meat, fish, alternative protein sources

(Eat 2 portions a day)

• A piece of meat the size of a deck of cards
• 1-2 eggs
• 3 heaped tbsp beans
• A handful of nuts/seeds

Fatty or sugary foods

(Eat only small amounts)

• A small packet of sweets
• A small bar of chocolate
• A small piece of cake
• A couple of biscuits
• A level tbsp mayo, dressing or oil
• Small packet of crisps

Treat exercise and water as groups in their own right and try to get your daily portions of both.