First Things First
Anyone who wants to lose weight always has a lot of questions, but the first question I am most often asked is, “Should I go on a diet?”. Unfortunately, that's not a "yes" or "no" question. My answer is based on some really old advice: Know thyself.Truthfully, I can’t tell you whether or not you’ll need to go on a diet to lose weight; but by doing a little soul-searching (or, trial and error), you can answer this for yourself.
What Works?
Many people follow set diets to lose weight and some of them keep it off; quite a few others simply follow a “DIY” plan of cutting calories, reducing portions, and making healthier choices. Which way will work for you? You may not know until you try. But you may want to consider that over the last few years, I’ve met a lot more people who were able to lose and keep the weight off by DIY-ing. That said, some of us need structure in our lives and without a diet to follow, your weight loss plan will not be structured.Are You the "Dieting" Type?
If you know you’re the type of person who not only can tolerate -- but actually prefers -- to be told what to eat (and even when), then you’ll probably be better off following a diet than “winging it”. It may take a couple weeks on any given diet for you to find out if it’s for you or not. If you wake up every day dreading what you’re supposed to be eating, then it’s a sign it may not be for you.What to Watch Out For
If you do decide to follow a set diet, be careful. One that is too restrictive will probably cause you to give up and go back to your old habits. Additionally, if a diet is too strict, it can actually lead to some health problems by cutting calories too low or limiting nutrients.If you have any of the following side effects, you should carefully examine your diet and/or consult your doctor: irritability, achy muscles, depression, weakness, susceptibility to colds, stomach pains and headaches.
Another downside of a diet that cuts calories too low is that you won’t have energy to exercise.
If you follow a diet that is too strict, you may actually end up maintaining or even gaining weight. The body can go into “starvation mode” when calories go too low. Any diet that cuts calories low enough will lead to weight loss, but diets often mean you are expected to no longer eat the foods you’re accustomed to eating. This leads to a sense of deprivation ... which results in cravings and binges.
Lastly, diets don’t always tell you how to keep weight off once you lose it. If the plan you choose isn’t designed to be a way of life -- or you just can’t stand to be on it any longer -- it won’t work in the long term.