With all the diet trends out there, healthy and otherwise, it’s easy to lose track of what everything actually entails. What follows is a guide to a few of the trending diets. If you’re serious about losing weight and keeping healthy, speak to your doctor BEFORE starting any new diet plan to make sure whatever you want to try is best for you.
Diet: Vegan/Vegetarians
Who uses it: People who don’t eat meat or animal byproducts.
All about it: While both vegans and vegetarians avoid meat of all kinds (poultry, pork, fish and seafood, red meat, etc), vegans take it one step further and avoid all other animal products like eggs, yogurt, butter, or any dairy products. Most vegetarians stick to vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, eggs, and dairy.
Benefits: Leaving less of a carbon footprint by not consuming animals; focusing on fresh vegetables and fruits.
Resources: Oh She Glows | Sprouted Kitchen | Vegetarian Times
Diet: The Slow-Carb diet
Who uses it: People who want to lose weight healthily.
All about it: The purpose of this diet is to eliminate “white” carbohydrates—those found in bread, potatoes, all rice, cereal, and other grain products. The diet also eliminates fruit and particularly fruit juice, as the sugar levels and insulin spike can promote weight-gain. Instead, the emphasis is on legumes like lentils, kidney beans, and black beans to get the kind of carbohydrates your body won’t store, but use. It also promotes eating four smaller meals per day instead of three, with plenty of protein and vegetables. One “cheat” day per week is highly encouraged, allowing participants to eat whatever they like.
Benefits: People who strictly follow this diet claim to drop weight rapidly but healthily.
Resources: The basics of the Slow-Carb Diet | The Stone Soup | 4 Hour Body Recipes
Diet: Gluten-free
Who uses it: People with gluten sensitivities or allergies, or those with Celiac’s disease.
All about it: Gluten-free diets are usually for people whose digestive system is sensitive to gluten, though many have switched to it just because of the healthy foods eaten instead. Going gluten-free means eliminating all bread products, including wheat, grains, barley, rye, and sometimes corn. The diet mostly consists of vegetables, beans, meats, fruit, dairy, and gluten substitutes.
Benefits: It relieves those with gluten allergies or Celiac’s disease, and promotes healthy eating.
Resources: Gluten-Free Girl| The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness | Elana’s Pantry
Diet: Paleo / Primal
Who uses it: People who want to lose fat while strengthening muscle.
All about it: The Paleo (or Primal) diet operates under the idea that because agriculture is a fairly recent invention, 99% of human evolution happened while we were hunter-gatherers. Our bodies are genetically programmed to operate best when we consume lean meat, vegetables, fruit, and nuts. Basically, paleo eaters don’t eat anything a caveman wouldn’t have access to. Breads, beans and legumes, grains, refined sugar, and potatoes are off-limits. Dairy is usually permitted for athletes attempting to strengthen and build their muscles.
Benefits: People who stick to this diet report much lower body fat percentages and more strength.
Resources: Mark’s Daily Apple | Nerd Fitness | This Primal Life
It’s impossible to completely change your lifestyle overnight, especially if you’ve been eating the same way for years! If you try eating healthier, the idea is to start with incremental changes. Instead of suddenly eating only vegetarian, start by giving up meat for a day or two a week, then slowly upping those days over a few months. As you start feeling better, you’ll want to do more and more to make those changes. The same goes with exercise! Get to the gym just once a week for twenty minutes, and before long, you’ll want to go more.
A great way to make these incremental changes is with our printable New Year’s Resolution chart. It’s perfect for any type of long-term goal, not just those we make on January 1. Check it out and print your own by clicking here.
Dress Up a Plain Suit
