As people are becoming more health conscious these days, there are a variety of diet plans which are available to suit every type of person and their typical needs. There are flexible diets, low carb diets, formula diets, pre-packaged meal diets, fixed-menu diets, soup diets, diabetic diets, no-carb diets, cabbage diets, vinegar diets, grapefruit diets, juice diets, to name just a few. Information about various diet plans is easily available online.

It is always best to consult a physician before starting on a diet plan. Most people start a diet program to lose weight while some are put on a diet due to an illness such as diabetes. Some of the popular diet plans currently followed are listed below.

• The South Beach Diet which was created by a well known cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatston.
• The Atkins Diet which was conceptualized by Dr. Robert Atkins.
• Suzanne Sommers Diet Plan
• Weight Watchers Weight Loss Plan
• The Mediterranean Diet
• The Three Day Tuna Diet
• The Zone Diet
• The Best Life Diet
• The Sonoma Diet
• The Paleo Diet
• The Jill Michaels Diet
• The Medifast Diet Program
• The Mayo Clinic Diet Plan

These are just a few of the diet plans currently available to those who feel the need to change their eating habits and benefit from a diet. People generally prefer diets which are low in fat and calories. If a person consumes a diet rich in fat content, like fried food and a lot of butter, weight gain is the natural outcome. Similarly high calorie diets and those that are rich in carbohydrates also cause a gain in weight.

The Most Popular Diet Plans Available Today

The South Beach Diet is currently one of the most popular diet plans which promises weight loss in a relatively short span of time. It is said to help in the loss of inches on the stomach, hips and thighs and also a loss of weight. This diet claims that the person following it will also lose the craving for food, which is one of the main reasons for weight gain.

This diet works in three phases and its main focus is on differentiating between good carbohydrates and the bad ones. The first phase lasts for fifteen days and is the least flexible and the strictest, where no carbohydrates are included in the diet resulting in swift weight loss. In the second phase the diet is balanced with the inclusion of good carbohydrates like dairy products, fruit and whole grains. The third is the maintenance phase which a person can continue with indefinitely.

According to experts in the field of nutrition, the South Beach Diet is healthy and heart friendly as it includes all the major food groups. Some feel that losing a lot of weight in the first phase may not be very healthy. Others feel that the initial weight loss is due to water loss and that is why it is so drastic. Those who have lost weight with this diet are extremely satisfied as it actually teaches you to eat right.

The Atkins Diet on the other hand recommends food which is rich in proteins, such as meat, cheese and eggs but makes the dieter avoid carbohydrates like grains, potatoes and fruit. This unconventional theory for weight loss is very popular and effective.

Experts were very skeptical and not in favour of the fact that this diet shunned carbohydrates completely and advocated the intake of so called “harmful” food rich in protein and fats. Nutritionists and doctors felt that this would cause problems in the kidneys and the heart as it would raise the cholesterol levels and there would be a complete imbalance in the diet. Actually this phase of no carbs is only introduced for a couple of weeks. After the induction phase low and “good” carbs are introduced.

Users are raving about this diet plan and feel most of the criticism is because of misinformation.

The Weight Watcher Weight Loss Plan focuses on eating smartly, more physical movement and developing healthier eating and living habits. In this weight loss plan, people are allowed to eat food to their liking, but each type of food is given points and the individual is allowed a certain number of points a day according to the amount of weight to be lost. There are group meetings which should be attended once a week where progress can be monitored.

People highly rate the “Points Plus” system in this plan. Since this healthy living plan focuses on exercise along with a healthy diet and inculcating a positive frame of mind in the individual and a regular support system, it is highly recommended by the users.

The Mediterranean Diet focuses on food from that region. Though there are about nineteen countries which border the Mediterranean Sea with there own special cuisine, a certain common dietary pattern prevails. Olive oil which is a healthy source of monounsaturated fat is the common cooking medium in a Mediterranean diet plan. The health benefits of the crops and meat cultivated in this region are the key to this diet plan. The recipes provided in this diet plan are well received by the users who do not even realize that they are on a diet.

The Medifast Diet Program is a popular diet plan currently used. This program focuses on meal-replacement drinks or food to promote weight loss. It also advises a “lean and green” meal once a day which includes a portion of lean meat or fish and three servings of low carb green leafy vegetables. This is a diet which is high in protein and low in carbohydrates which helps preserve lean muscle and helps fat loss.

People who have tried this diet plan have lost a lot of weight, but maintenance after stopping the diet depends on the user’s eating habits.

The Mayo Clinic diet plan has been created by professionals in the field of medicine from a health institute of repute. It is based on a Healthy Weight Pyramid which promotes nutrition through the intake of fruits, vegetables along with carbs, proteins and dairy products. Large portions of food that is low in calories are recommended. People are encouraged to make healthy life style changes through this plan which has good reviews from users.

There are a number of other diet plans which could be followed but the above mentioned are currently the most popular. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle even after achieving the required weight loss with the preferred choice of diet plan.