How to Choose a Diet That Suits You - Part Two...with part three to follow

Exploring Dieting Patterns

1. 
   
   
   Try intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting, or IF, is where you only eat during certain times of day, or fast for a certain amount of hours. Some people go a full 24 hours without eating, while others only eat, say, between noon and 6 PM. The belief is that when your body doesn't have a meal to feast off of, it goes straight to your fat stores, resulting in weight loss.
   

   • The pros: IF will result in weight loss, if not partly because you just eat less. It's super cheap (not eating = $0), and results can be pretty stark, especially if you're overweight or obese to begin with.
   • The cons: This is very unhealthy if done wrong – your body needs food to survive. You will, at least initially, feel tired, irritable, and maybe even nauseated. What's more, it takes the willpower of a machine to stick to.
   • Who should follow this? If you're looking for rapid weight loss and don't mind keeping track of when you should and should not eat, you may want to give this a try. However, if you're rather social and like to stick to a routine, this diet is not for you.

   
   
   
2. 
   
   
   Do calorie-cycling. Recent science has supported the idea of calorie cycling: in any given week, you have a few low-calorie days, a couple of regular days, and a high-calorie day It keeps the body from knowing what to expect, therefore keeping it on high gear at all times.
   

   • The pros: No food groups are down and out restricted with this diet, and there is that one day where you get to "healthily binge." There are no set times; you just need to remember what day it is!
   • The cons: You have to count your calories, for starters, which can be a bit of a drag. You also can't take too many liberties – just because it's your high-calorie day does not mean you can eat 30 brownies (if you want results, that is).
   • Who should follow this? Most research seems to say that this is healthy enough, if done right. If you want to see results, just make sure you're getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains every day, regardless of what kind of day it is. If you're diligent and interested in how the body works, this could be for you. But know your weaknesses – this diet can be easy to abuse and does take effort in counting calories and staying on plan.

   
   
   
3. 
   
   
   Consider the 3-hour diet. This is a diet that says you should eat every 3 hours to keep your metabolism up – if you don't, your body automatically reaches starvation mode. You eat light meals regularly, and then 100-calorie snacks in between. However, you don't eat 3 hours before bed. There are pre-prepared meals you can buy on this plan if you're interested.
   

   • The pros: You can eat anything (even fried chicken), if you control your portion sizes. It also keeps you feeling full, since you're eating all day. It also encourages a healthy balance of all the food groups.
   • The cons: This diet is easy to do wrong. The freedom makes it easy to abuse. In addition, there's not a ton of science to back up the idea that eating often is what you should do
   • Who should follow this? Try this diet out if you're looking for an interesting twist on dieting and find yourself snacking away, anyway. Do not try this diet if you're looking for surefire weight loss or are lacking in the willpower department.

   
    
4. 
   Experiment with the New Beverly Hills diet. The idea behind this diet is that it's not about what foods you eat, it's about when you eat them and what you eat them with. The right combination leads to better digestion, and your body getting rid of it instead of turning it to fat. It claims that you'll see up to a 15 pound weight loss during the diet's 35-day initiation phase.
   

   • The pros: There's no calorie or food-group restriction and no portion control, believe it or not. You don't have to count a thing, except for the time. It also encourages fruits and vegetables, which are good for the body.
   • The cons: Well, for starter it's not scientifically backed up, and in the beginning it requires only eating fruit. While fruit is a healthy part of a balanced diet, it is not health to only eat fruit. The rules are a little convoluted and difficult to follow (only eat protein once you've eaten protein; once you eat a type of fruit, be done with it and switch to a different type of fruit, etc.).
   • Who should follow this? Try this diet if you're not into portion control or food restriction. There is a book, tapes, and meal plans you can purchase for a fee, if you're willing to spend money. Do not try this diet if you're not diligent and serious – this diet is easy to not lose weight on.

   
   PART 3 TO FOLLOW 
   
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