Which Diet Is Right For You?

Which Diet Is Right for You?

There are a huge number — almost innumerable — of diets to choose from: Carnivore, Atkins, Keto, Paleo, Low Fat, Low Carb… the list goes on.

But which one is right for you?

The right diet for you is the one that fits into your lifestyle the easiest. That might sound cliché and almost like it avoids giving a real answer, but it’s true.

If we’re talking diets for weight loss, then the diet you choose is almost irrelevant, as all diets should have the same underlying principle: caloric restriction to induce a deficit.

Some achieve this in one way, some in another. Let’s look at a few examples:

Weight Watchers employs a points system and tracking, which is another method of calorie and macronutrient tracking. They also have “zero-point” foods, which are usually fruits and vegetables. The idea isn't bad! It encourages eating more fruit and veg, and since these are typically high in volume and low in calories, they help you feel fuller while contributing relatively few calories.

Low carb/fat diets: By eliminating one macronutrient group, you're automatically limiting the range of available foods, which can make it harder to overconsume calories.

Keto: Again, this diet mostly eliminates an entire macronutrient group, leaving far fewer food choices.

You see the pattern...

A Few Things to Consider Before Starting a New Diet

(We’ll get to why that word might not be so helpful in a moment.)

• Is it sustainable? Once the honeymoon phase is over, are you going to be able to continue? Does it differ drastically from your current way of living?
• Is it affordable? Some diets can be costly — if it requires eating steak or lots of meat regularly, the price can add up fast.
• What are your reasons for choosing it? Is it because someone else did it? Are you doing it for aesthetic reasons, or health?
• Is it nutritionally balanced? Will it provide all the essential nutrients you need — including fibre and micronutrients?

Think carefully about your answers to these questions before committing to a new diet. Is it really going to work for you?

Diet — from the Greek, “a way of life”

If you can answer the above questions positively, great! Go ahead and choose whichever diet suits you. My recommendation, as a trainer and someone who’s worked in the health and fitness space for over 14 years, is to learn how to shape your diet into your life, not the other way around — and be prepared for some compromises.

If your goal is to be healthier and/or lose weight, you’ll be better served by taking very small but consistent steps towards improving your daily routine. Keep in mind that changing habits is a slow process.

Start with something small and achievable. For example, try adding one extra portion of vegetables to your day. Just add them into one of your meals. Don’t change anything else — stick to that for a week or so until it becomes a regular habit.

One thing I believe most people can benefit from is tracking their food intake with a food tracking app. I’d suggest treating it as a temporary learning tool — something to help you understand portion sizes and macronutrients better.

Making small changes can lead to big results.

Here’s a rough checklist you can aim towards to optimise your health and diet:

• 30g of fibre per day
• 1.5g of protein per kg of bodyweight
• 15–30% of total calories from fat
• Make up the rest with carbohydrates
• Lots of variety in food sources
• At least 80% of daily intake from single-ingredient or whole foods

These are just rough guidelines and are not intended as individual nutritional advice.