Tired of dealing with a less-than-perfect body shape? If you are hoping to shed some pounds and attain a favorable weight, then all you need is the right weight loss regimen that is proven to be effective and safe at the safe time. Here, you can find some of the popular weight loss programs and plans today, as well as the pros and cons of each.

Low Carbs

One of the common weight loss programs that aims to give you a slimmer body is the low carb diet. As the name implies, this requires a limited amount of carbohydrates in your diet. So, you are supposed to cut back on foods and drinks that are rich in carbs such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, pastries, soda, and sweets. Instead of loading up on these, you can go for protein and fat sources, which can be satiating for longer periods. Thus, you end up losing weight in the long run.

However, there are people who end up losing important nutrients by going for low carb since they also decide to cut out on high-fiber food sources such as veggies and fruits. Moreover, eating too much of saturated fat-rich foods including dairy and bad oils will never do you any good.

Low Fat

There are some assumptions that by restricting your diet to a low fat one is beneficial to losing weight. Yes, there are two times as much calories per gram in fat than in protein or carbs. But the truth is, low-fat does not always mean low in calories. In fact, foods labeled as low in fat contain more calories because of added sugars and calorie-dense ingredients for flavor enhancement.

The idea is to avoid foods that are rich in saturated or bad fats, and opt for sources of healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado, and fatty fish including salmon, sardines and mackerel. Make it a point to maintain about 20 to 35 percent of total calories in your diet coming from fats.

Very Low Calorie

Also considered as the faster route to losing weight, the very low calorie diet is another weight loss program that has been a fad for years. The concept behind this diet is to limit your calorie intake to 800 a day, which is way below the recommended amount for an average woman. While this diet plan does provide quick results, the effects can be detrimental.

When the diet goes for over 12 weeks, it is common for individuals to experience undesirable symptoms. For instance, fatigue, nausea, insomnia, gallstones, and malnutrition can occur, which defeat the purpose of losing weight and staying healthy.

Paleo Diet

Popularly called as the “caveman diet”, this weight loss plan is high in fat and protein as it focuses more on the consumption of omega 3s and “good fats” in the diet. While this diet may prove to be effective in helping you lose weight, there are some drawbacks or limitations to consider.

The diet can be expensive since you are required to consume meats from wild slmon, free-range chicken and grass-fed cows. It is also limited in carbs, which is important in enhancing the mood and memory. Hence, this diet does not promise you of a balanced diet considering the fact that it is short on micronutrients.

By keeping in mind these different weight loss programs, you should be able to determine which one works best for your lifestyle and particular concerns.