Comparing Weight Loss Programs
With so many people looking to lose weight, it’s no wonder there are so many diets and weight loss programs out there.
But all of these programs can be overwhelming, and the truth is, many are just out to get your money.
So which weight loss program is best for you? Let’s compare…
Weight Loss Programs: Counting Calories
If you need to lose a lot of weight, reducing your calorie intake may be beneficial. This is essentially the same goal of weight loss programs that rely on point systems. Creating a calorie deficit (burning more calories than you’re eating) can be a great way to lose weight and burn fat.
But the risks may outweigh the benefits especially if the deficit is not in line with your goals.
Calorie deficits can also result in muscle loss, which can counteract your strength training and muscle building efforts. Extra calories are also needed to sustain that extra muscle growth.
The other part of calorie counting is that it really puts you down the wrong path of always stressing out about how many calories there are in your food rather than enjoying what you eat. My advice on this is to stay away from these kind of weight loss programs.
Weight Loss Programs: Low-Carb Diet
The low-carb diet is a great option for losing weight as carbohydrates are often accompanied by extra calories. But don’t cut carbs completely – your body needs carbs to properly process other nutrients like protein.
If you do the low-carb diet, do it right – go for lean, unprocessed meats like fish and poultry. They’ll contain less sodium and be lower in unhealthy fats.
Also make sure to have carbs before and after your workouts as without the carbs you’ll drain your energy and not have the ability to go extra hard in your workouts.
Going Vegan
Many people think that going vegetarian or vegan is an effective path to weight loss. But lots of new research indicates this may not be the case.
The removal of dairy products and meats also means a significant decrease in protein, which is key to a balanced diet. The majority of vegetarians are lacking all the essential amino acids that are found in complete proteins because most veggie sources of protein are not complete.
If you go vegan, make sure you take a veggie-based protein supplement like Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein, in addition to eating lots of protein-rich nuts, beans and legumes.
