[excerpt] Low carb, high protein, the grapefruit diet … If you've decided to lose weight, the options for doing so may seem overwhelming. So how can you find a weight loss plan that is right for you?
Losing weight can be a daunting task - which explains the appeal of programs that promise to make weight loss easy. But all too often, fad diets result not only in regaining lost pounds, but in putting on extra weight as well. That's because safe, effective and, most importantly, long-term weight loss requires two important things:
* permanent changes in the way you eat
* making exercise a habit, not just something you do on the rare occasion when the mood strikes
And these are two things that many quick fix diets fail to incorporate.
Here are some tips for recognizing fad diets or weight loss gimmicks:
* It promises unrealistic results. Safe weight loss means no more than 2 lbs. (1 kg) per week. If you lose weight any faster than that, you body could compensate by slowing down the rate at which it burns calories, thereby slowing weight loss and even making it easier to gain weight after you return to your normal eating habits.
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