How To Choose A Diet Program For You

Find one that appeals to you and try it for 7 days. At the end of day 7, ask yourself the following questions:

Did it bring me closer to my target weight / health goals?

Always check if you moved closer to your target goals. If it moved you away, it will probably never work. If it moved you closer, then 1 point! If nothing happened, it would be fair to try it for another short stretch.

Was I able to integrate it well with my budget and schedule or did it mess up those things?

If it ate too much money (costs) or time (preparation), I don’t think it’s worth it. Although “too much” will always be a subjective call so consider wisely.

Is it something I can see myself doing one year down the line?

To me, there is no point starting a diet and then going back to your old habits after a couple of months. It’s a waste of time and effort. So see if your diet is somehing you will actually want to keep doing, otherwise, scrap it. Is it something I can keep doing in non-normal conditions i usually find myself in (ie. when traveling, visiting family, during workout days, etc.) See if it’s something you can keep doing in different conditions. If you can answer yes, then the chances that you will stick with your diet in the long run increases favorably. Otherwise, all it takes is a couple of highly-stressing stretches of days and you will likely be back to your old habits.

How were my energy levels? How did it affect my work, sleep, and social tasks (or any other important area of your life)?

To me, this is another one of the more important things. If it messes up other areas of my life, the lost weight will not be worth it. This is because, in the long run, it’s not something I will stick to and any results I’ve built up will likely get thrown away.

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I am currently on the Warrior Diet and I’ve so far lost over 8 pounds in 4 weeks. I spend a little more on fruit juices than my normal meals but it isn’t that much more, so financially, it’s not bad. Time-wise, I actually get to spend my normal lunch and snack periods doing other work, so it’s time gained, more than anything else. The boost to my alertness and focus are astounding to me and, if for no other reason, i’m sticking to the diet because of this. I no longer get sleepy in the afternoons even when I cheat a little (unless some other stupid project caused it - my sleep every other day thing, hehe) and for some reason, I sleep quite easily at night (my guess is it’s the large meals.) It’s also very easy to integrate during non-normal days (with a little cheating,) like when I couldn’t get hold of any fruit or vegetables (I substituted Extra Joss, two crackers, water and coffee). It’s a diet that works for me with some side benefits that I found very valuable.

I intended this to be guide for others trying to get on an eating program. I guess there are thousands of them now, and finding one that suits you and your goals is, for me, the most important thing.