Everyone is looking for the next way to quickly shed a few pounds, but with so many diets, which one is right for you. If you want a complete lifestyle change or just a quick jumpstart, there is a diet for you. Check out these three popular diets and find out which one is perfect for your needs and lifestyle.
HCG Diet
The HCG diet uses injections or drops of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotophin (hCG) to help you succeed on an extremely low-calorie diet. The diet has a very strict list of foods you can eat, including chicken, turkey, lean fish, cucumbers, onions and spinach. It excludes most spices, seasonings and sweeteners.
Advantages
- You can lose up to 30 pounds in just one month.
- HCG drops improve your metabolic rate.
- Since you don't eat processed foods, this diet detoxes your body of unhealthy chemicals and additives.
- You lose weight without needing to exercise. In fact, you can't exercise while on the diet.
- You can click here and buy over-the-counter HCG oral drops, which are less costly but just as effective as injections.
Disadvantages
- The calorie intake is extremely restrictive at 500 calories a day.
- It is one of the most restrictive diets, making it difficult to follow if you don't have the willpower.
- Even after you finish the diet, you must follow the maintenance plan to prevent sudden weight gain.
When to Choose This Diet: This diet is perfect for people who want to lose large amounts of weight fast. However, this diet is extremely restrictive, and there is no wiggle room. You cannot take a day off and enjoy a dinner with your friends or a glass of wine.
17-Day Diet
This diet relies on lean protein, produce and healthy fats, while limiting carbohydrates. It is comprised of several stages. Each stage lasts 17 days, and each is progressively less restrictive. In stage one, you focus on eating protein. In stage two, you can eat more and you start eating whole grains. In stage three, more grains and fruit are added along with a snack. In the last stage, you follow the diet during the week and spoil yourself on the weekend.
Advantages
- You can lose 10-12 pounds in the first stage.
- You can exercise and must exercise on this diet.
- The last few stages are designed to help teach you healthy eating habits for life.
Disadvantages
- The diet requires you to purchase the book to fully understand it.
- If you are highly active, this diet may not provide you with enough calories.
When to Choose This Diet:
If you just want a good way to lose some weight fast, this diet is great. Because the later stages of the diet are less restrictive, it is also better for people who are more sociable and enjoy eating out with friends.
The Dukan Diet
The Dukan Diet is much like the famous and well-known Atkins Diet. It is comprised of four stages. During the first stage, you eat as much lean protein as you want. The second stage adds unlimited non-starchy vegetables. In the third stage, you can have a few meals where you eat whatever you want. In the last stage, you eat whatever you want, but one day a week, you must only eat lean protein.
Advantages
- The diet claims you'll lose up to 10 pounds in the first week and 2-4 pounds each week after that.
- You don't feel hungry because you can eat as much as you want of the allowed foods.
- Since meat is the main focal point of this diet, it is perfect for meat-lovers.
Disadvantages
- High protein diets are not healthy for your kidneys and may even damage them.
- You do not get enough nutrients and vitamins like calcium in the first stages of the diet because you cannot eat certain food groups.
- This isn't just a quick diet to drop a few pounds. It is designed as a lifestyle change.
When to Choose This Diet:
Meat is the core of this diet, so it is best for people who love meat and want to change their lifestyle and learn how to eat healthy for the rest of their life. This is another one that is great if you like to indulge every now and then because the later stages are less restrictive.
There is no perfect diet for everyone, but there is a perfect diet for you. You can lose weight fast and keep it off with these three diets. Figure out which one is right for you and start making changes today.