Which diets are "best" for weight loss?

If you’re looking to lose weight you might start by searching something along the lines of, “What is the best diet for weight loss?”. Upon doing so, you will be given links to numerous websites with all kinds of specific, restrictive diets including Keto, Paleo, Vegan, etc.

What if I told you there is no one in particular diet that is “best” for weight loss? The best diet for weight loss is the one that you’ll stick to consistently and not become frustrated with because it’s too restrictive. Typically “diets” refer to a style of eating that eliminates an entire food group, or multiple entire food groups. The problem with a lot of these diets is that they actually work...if you adhere to them. But that’s the big IF.

Oftentimes people find themselves craving the foods that they’ve eliminated completely, because they’re foods that they’ve eaten their whole lives, and now they’ve just cut them out cold turkey. People also often suffer socially when trying these kinds of diets because they can’t have many foods served at parties or while they’re out to eat with friends/family. This causes frustration that eventually builds up and leads to giving up on the diet entirely or even binging. Which ultimately leaves the dieter worse off than before they even started the diet in the first place.

The best “diet” is actually no diet at all. Instead of following a specific diet, it’s best to focus on improving your habits. Better habits can be things such as increasing protein intake, tracking calories to stay in a calorie deficit, eating vegetables or fruit at least twice a day, etc. The list can go on and on. But the main difference here is that you’re not actively restricting any specific foods or food groups. This gives you the flexibility to enjoy your life and ultimately makes your eating style sustainable.

If your eating habits aren’t sustainable, it doesn’t matter how good your eating habits are because there’s a very small chance you’ll eat that way forever. It is best to strive to improve your relationship with food to the point where you can intuitively eat healthy and listen to the signals your body gives you to determine how much and what you should be eating. This is a process that takes time, but it’s ultimately much more rewarding and beneficial than choosing a restrictive diet that you hate and makes you miserable.