With all of the weight loss programs and plans out there, choosing the one that's right for you can be difficult, not to mention confusing! If you're looking for a safe yet effective weight loss program there are some qualities to look for and some red flags to avoid.
A nutrition or diet program should teach healthy behaviors that not only promote a reduction in weight, but also the ability to maintain the hard earned changes over time.
A healthy program should encourage gradual and consistent fat loss.
Any plan that promises a loss of more than 2 pounds per week should be steered clear of! If the diet plan you're considering suggests the elimination of an entire macronutrient (carbohydrates, proteins, fats), avoid it like the plague! Healthy fat loss programs promote balance and the inclusion of all food groups with an emphasis placed on 'everything in moderation'.
The addition of regular exercise and physical activity (you knew that was coming didn't you?) is a very important aspect of any respectable, health conscious fat loss program.
Consistent workouts are necessary not only for initial weight loss, but also maintaining the physical improvements you worked so hard to achieve! Losing weight should be about more than just looking great, it should focus on feeling good, being healthy and happy, increasing energy and improving the function of our heart, lungs and muscles! A responsible fat loss program will focus on all of those things and still allow for the occasional slip up, after all we are human and it happens.