Ads for exercise equipment, weight loss products, and star-sponsored fitness routines dominate television, and it's hard not to think you're the only one out there who isn't working on your body. In fact, the perfect body is one part of a healthy, quality life.

Being truly healthy requires a healthy lifestyle and a proper, balanced diet. Diet for fitness provides the nutrition and energy we need to restore tired muscles and maintain a positive productive energy level. Think of the diet approaches - high-carb, low-fat, all-protein, sugar-free, all-chocolate, Scarsdale, Atkins, South Beach. There is no shortage of great-sounding fad diets out there.

If you pay attention to advertisements and special programs that focus on dieting and weight loss programs, you may not know where to turn for dependable, honest facts about nutrition and health. In fact, most fad diets don't work, and they sure don't support your health. So, what can you do to find out what's best, and most healthy, for you?

In reality, there are two basic diet approaches: high-carb diets and high-fat diets. High-carb diets focus on eating lots of carbohydrate-rich foods, and high-fat diets endorse fat-rich foods. High-carb diets use burn the glycogen in your liver and muscles. This glucose complex provides quick energy that you use in anaerobic exercises.

Fats are the richest source of calories, containing more than twice as much calorie value than either carbohydrates or proteins. When metabolizing carbohydrates, the human body burns 24 calories, yet it only takes three calories to burn the same amount of fat.

So, which one is best? Neither. Each diet approach yields results, as long as you stick to one type. You can adopt a high-carb, low-fat diet or a low-carb, high-fat diet. Just don't try both at the same time unless you want to gain weight.

But diets shouldn't be just about losing fat. A healthy balanced diet maintains a healthy weight and avoids weight gains. Successful weight loss can only be realized when the daily diet reflects lifestyle, individual food preferences, unique physical needs, and feeling satisfied with what you eat. There's really only one diet that will work for you. That's the diet that helps you stay fit, feeling healthy and satisfied with who you are. And that diet is unique to you.

When you diet for fitness, there are three things to remember: moderation, variation, and balance. Plan your meal schedule so that you don't get too full or too hungry at any time of day. This may mean three meals, five meals, or one meal. It depends your schedule and your physical needs.

Moderation means eating when you need to and eating the amount that satisfies without adding calories your body will only store as fat. Balance means selecting a healthy diversity - the basic food groups. It means getting the proper amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber to keep your body functioning at its highest potential. Variation means giving yourself enough choice to keep interested in the foods you eat. Eating the same things all the time is not only boring, it's unhealthy. Having a salad one time and chicken the next will assure you get both the nutrition and the diversity you need.

The bottom line is that your important decision isn't what diet program will work. It's about what diet program will work to keep YOU fit and healthy. It doesn't mean going on a fad diet for a few weeks or months and then going back to your old habits. It means adopting a well-balanced, nutritious diet in combination with regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle and sticking to it - for life!

One last word of advice: experiment. Try new foods to keep your diet interesting and nutritious. Try new recipes to get a new take on the familiar. Who knows? You might even learn to love spinach!

1) The Diet Does Not Conform To Their Lifestyle

This is a mistake that the majority of dieters are guilty of. Before going on a given diet, or enrolling in a diet program, individuals should closely examine the requirements of the diet. After looking over the requirements, they should compare them to the realities of their lifestyle. As I researched the top ten diets that work, I found that each of them suited the lifestyle of a high percentage of people.

For example, if an individual has an occupation where they are constantly eating "on the run", is it realistic that they will stick to a plan that features all prepared meals?

Probably not.

If a diet requires drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, is it realistic to select it if you can't make frequent trips to the bathroom throughout the day?

Probably not.

Eating preferences can determine how suitable a diet is for any given individual. If you refuse to each fruits and vegetables, a balanced and restrictive low calorie diet may be a self defeating choice. Inevitably, if an individual goes on a diet and will only eat some of the required food, they are doomed to be weak, tired, and miserable!

It is important that each dieter actually puts themselves in the mental position of actually being on the diet. Upon examining that realitiy, they may realize that a given diet program is not realistic for them.

In this article, we try to provide you with adequate information about a body detox diet and its various advantages and side effects. A normal body detox diet would generally start with a fast that lasts for a short period of time. This 'fast' is followed up by a strict diet schedule that includes huge portions of fresh vegetables and fruits. Many of these diets include enemas to help clean out your colon. Body detox diet may also include certain herbal supplements that can help boost the detoxification process in the body. There are many body detox diet plans to choose from and the decision can get difficult; the best choice would be to pick a diet plan which is low in fat and high in fiber.

As you can imagine, fresh fruits and vegetables are the main ingredients in any body detox diet. Not only do fresh fruits and vegetables help provide the body with all the essential nutrients, they also aid in cleansing your body from the inside. Both water and fresh juices are included in a body detox diet. Water is very essential for healthy functioning of the body and it effectively helps flush out harmful toxins from your system as well.

A good body detox diet may also include herbal tea along with beneficial herbs. You may also consider taking herbal detox mixes that have the perfect combination of detoxification elements to help purify your body and mind. Some important herbal ingredients are triphala and fennel, yellow duck and dandelion, milk thistle etc.

A body detox diet has many several benefits as it helps to clean your body from within. As a result of detoxification, the body becomes more healthy, energetic, and younger than before. Cleansing your body internally can help you live a healthier and more active life. However, these diets are low on nutrition counts therefore keep in mind that these diets are only meant for short-term purposes. If you follow this diet for a long period of time, your health would be negatively affected so refrain from doing so.

It is recommended that you consult your doctor before starting on a body detox diet. If you have special health needs then these diets may prove to be harmful. Anyone suffering from diabetes, eating disorders, or low blood sugar should not undertake such diets. But if you are given the thumbs up by your doctor, do not be afraid to try a body detox diet once every few months to purify your body from within.

Following a good body detox diet can help get your body back to perfect functioning state. But along with a healthy diet, you would also need to cut back on your smoking and alcohol for some time. Also combine your diet with regular exercise and proper rest to get the desired results. Why not find yourself a good body detox diet and help cleanse your body to live a much healthier and happier life.

Some diet plans created are restrictive of carbohydrates and proteins. Others provide alternative food like cookie or the soup recipes. Still, others are integrated with stages or phases. But there's one which makes them united, most of them include fruits and vegetables.

• 3-Hour Diet
Description: Eat everything with perfect timing which was conceptualized by Jorge Cruise. It requires eating breakfast within 60 minutes upon getting up in the morning. Second is eating in 3 hour intervals or between meals. No more food is allowed 3 hours before going to bed at night.

What To Eat: 3 meals, 2 snacks, and a treat (carbohydrates, protein and fats) and small portion of sweets

Advantage: Flexibility of meal types and fits any food budget

Downside: It is not possible for very busy people

• Atkins diet
Description: It is a meat based diet with no fruit or starchy vegetables conceptualized by Dr. Robert Atkins. No carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and this results in using the reserve fats as source of energy

What To Eat: meat but no carbohydrates

Advantage: Effective for fast or crash diet

Downside: It is unhealthy since it doesn't practice good nutrition. In addition to that is the tendency for people to gain so much weight when diet stops. It increases risk of cancer.

• The Cabbage Soup Diet
Description: It is a 7 day diet plan which includes cabbage soup recipe and other meals. Proper distribution of food groups within the 7 day period. It includes the special menu of cabbage soup. It also recommends taking in multivitamins to fight stress. It focuses on the lose water diet scheme.

What to Eat: cabbage soup menu, skim milk, brown rice, unsweetened drinks, fruits

Advantage: It is effective for fast dieting. There is no possibility of serious heart problems. It includes a very simple recipe.

Downside: Weight gain when one stops the cabbage soup diet.

• Cookie diet
Description: It requires eating cookies the entire day to replace the breakfast and lunch meals. Dinner should be healthy and sensible. Using cookies in a low calorie diet tends to make someone feel full. Cookie is made of amino acids and fiber.

What to eat: four to six cookies throughout the day and a healthy dinner

Advantage: It is effective for those who skip meals and have no time. It does not need preparation.

Downside: It is not easy to make it as a lifestyle diet scheme so it's short term. There are limited flavors for the cookies available.

• Eat to Live Diet
Description: It requires eating low calorie nutritious meals conceptualized by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Primarily, focus on vegetables and fruits with less salt and sugar.

What to eat: nuts, vegetables, fruits and no snacking

Advantage: It aims to lose weight yet remain healthy. It is not a tasteless diet. It is lifestyle changing and good to lower cholesterol.

Downside: It is lifestyle changing so it would require avoiding the usual snacking and eating out practices.

• The Raw Food Diet
Description: It requires eating a low calorie nutritious diet which includes raw food. It is also known as the living diet. Raw food is one of the best diet foods. It encompasses the living food philosophy.

What to Eat: salad, cake, soup, vegetables, fruits with recipes

Advantage: It is a low calorie diet but healthy and nutritious. Some recipes do not require 100% raw food.

Downside: Reality is that some vegetables can't be eaten raw. It entails planning and preparation.

• The Sonoma Diet
Description: It includes ten power foods flavored in 3 waves conceptualized by Connie Guttersen. Food preparation of the ten power flavored foods based on Mediterranean diet with portion control

What to Eat: whole grains, almonds, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, grapes, spinach, blueberries, strawberries, and olive oil.

Advantage: There is wide variety of food prepared with flavor and easy to maintain. Recipes are prepared to be shared with all family members.

Downside: It requires spending time for cooking.

• The South Beach Diet
Description: The diet plans is restricted to low carbohydrates plus fruits and vegetables. It has 3 phases: restrictive, targeted and maintenance. It was created by Arthur Agatston.

What to Eat: lean meats,

Meal Replacement Diets

These diets include the likes of Tony Ferguson Weight Loss Program and Kate Morgan Weight Loss Program. These diets work by having a calorie controlled weight loss drink once of twice a day and then supplemented with a balanced diet. These diets have tended to result in significant weight loss in the short term. The problem with these diets is that it can be difficult to maintain. The drinks also don’t work in well with social habits in terms of eating out. Common side effects of these diets are constipation. These diets can definitely work, however make sure you also keep up with your recommend servings of fruit and vegetables.

Detox Diets

There are many detox diets out there on the market and the most common is the Lemon Detox Diet. These detox diets remove saturated fats from your diet, as well as refined sugars, however there is little evidence to show it actually removes ‘toxins’ from the body. These diets are extremely calorie restricted. For instance the Lemon Detox Diet would involve having 6 drinks a day, and nothing else. Each of these drinks only has 100 calories in them, so anyone who sticks to this will lose a substantial amount of weight. The problems is that the fast weight loss throws the body into starvation mode and the bodies metabolic rate slows down significantly. Once the diet is finished, weight will be put back and fat will replace what was once muscle. Dieters should be very careful before embarking on these diets and do so under doctors supervision.

Fad Diets

There are so many fad diets on the market that it is almost impossible to keep count. The cabbage diet or the grapefruit diet are two of these. Most fad diets can be identified by the promise of fast weight loss. The problem with any fad diet is that fast weight loss is almost never sustainable and will invariably lead to weight gain and the yo-yo weight effects that dieters experience from going on to many diets.

Healthy Balanced Diets

These are not the diets that people get excited about, however they have always had the best long term results. These will diets that include at least 5 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit a day, and a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Some good examples of these diets are Australian Lifestyle & Fitness, CSIRO and Low GI Diet. The focus is on moderating calorie intake but still achieving a balanced diet.

Fad diet makes promise untrue or unsafe. The tips in this section help you to spot fad diet and avoid the unhealthy activities they recommend.

* This diet will not contain a warning label.
* This diet does not have credible scientific research as a back up to its claims.
* This diet ensures a claim to the effect of the weight loss is prompt and rapid without having to do physical exercises. Rapid weight loss would get reflected in two more pounds in a week time.
* This diet position its products in the market to the consumer mentioning that weight loss cannot be achieved without the intake of fad diet.
* This diet involves in the promotion of miracle foods that burn excess fat.
* Most of the fad diet items do restrict certain types of foods, while motivating the dieter to eat more of other types of food which take care of protein and nutritional nourishment in a balanced manner..

Examples of Fad Diet

Liquid Diet

For most people liquid diet is recommended to bring about loss in weight. However, when the dieter is put on this diet weight gain in pounds also comes back. These dieters should be very cautious and are precluded from being on this diet for an extended period of time. These diets do not enrich the human body the vitamins and minerals it requires to maintain good and optimal health.

High Protein Diet

The claim of a high protein diet is when you eat large quantities of protein weight increase occurs and enables body to build muscles. You should know the fat from physicians that muscle building is brought about to a systematic weight training program. These dieters are considered to be in general, losing a good deal of weight. These have side effects also to the extent they may cause damage to the liver and the kidneys.

Grapefruit Diet & Cabbage Diet

Grapefruit diet and cabbage diet enables only consuming one specific food as a fad diet. These types of restrictive diet are very bad for health. Many dieters who commence this restrictive type of diet are not successful in lasting a very long time. Weaknesses can take place promptly due to low calorie consumption as well as a dearth of vitamins and minerals in the food. Additionally, the body will lower its metabolic rate and will result in burning lesser calories.

One of the most important things you can do to ensure that you stick with your weight loss goals is to write a contract with yourself, promising to stick with the resolution that you have made. If you want to lose a specific amount of weight within a certain amount of time, be sure to include this in the contract along with what you specifically plan to do to lose the weight. Post the contract somewhere you’ll be sure to see it everyday.

Setting goals is an excellent way to make sure that you stay on track with your weight loss plans; however, it is important to ensure that your goals are manageable and not too broad in scope. Due to the fact that dieting can become tiresome very quickly, you may find it helpful to energize your diet with a new goal each week. This gives you something to work on, and even look forward to, each week. Examples of small goals you can set for yourself include starting an exercise routine, cutting out sodas, drinking more water, etc.

Small goals are also a great incentive to work your way up to larger goals, an important component of sticking to your diet plans. Rather than saying you plan to lose weight this year, instead make it a point to commit to losing a specific amount of weight within a definite time frame. This helps to ensure that you do not put off your weight loss plans indefinitely.

As with any major change in your life, it’s generally always easier to accomplish your goals when you have the help and support of friends and family. Make a point to inform those close to you that you are dieting and what you hope to accomplish. In addition, it’s always a good idea to let them know exactly what you’re doing to lose weight so they do not unintentionally sabotage your diet plans. The presence of a weight loss buddy who can keep you on track and motivated will significantly decrease the chances that you’ll give up before accomplishing your goals.

Most people function well under a rewards system and losing weight is no different, provided that you ensure your rewards support your diet and do not undermine them. While you may look forward to enjoying an ice cream sundae after reaching a weight loss goal, think of other rewards that you would enjoy and keep your diet intact. Consider rewarding yourself for every milestone you reach, such as every five pounds lost. Positive reward examples include a manicure, massage, new book/CD/DVD, new shirt, etc. Significant weight loss goals, such as 25 pounds or 50 pounds, could warrant a larger reward such as a weekend trip or something else meaningful.

The first criticism about the diet is the fact that it asks people to be vegans and vegetarians. Critics claim that the diet, especially with its deletion of dairy products ( vegetarian source of protein ), is very low in protein content. However, this comes from the misconception that we need a large amount of proteins. Going by popularity of the low carbohydrate diet (that is just high in protein diets) has aggravated this conception in the heads of people. Sadly health has become equal to eating dairy and red meat.

Anyway, there are lots of sources of healthy proteins which don't contain the bad acidic effects of dairy products or red meat. In reality, many people take too much of protein and not too less. Generally women need around 45 grams per day, and a man needs around 55 grams. One cup of tofu (that is acceptable on pH diet) has around 20 gm of proteins. And beans have around 8 grams every half a cup. So in reality its easy to gain enough of protein from a vegetarian diet.

One more criticism about this issue is about calcium. Most people tend to equate drinking milk and getting stronger bones. But , American women take average two pounds of milk every day and still about 30 million women get osteoporosis. If taking milk made bones stronger, then only the opposite will be true. From a study done by Cornell nutritionist named Amy Joy Lanou who proved that there is no link between dairy substances and healthy bones in young adults and children. There are many sources of calcium in alkalizing food products which will enhance protection to osteoporosis.

Most critics also say that the importance on fresh foods and vegetables is the actual cause behind the victory that many get from diets. pH miracle diet recommends to eat around 70 percent of vegetables and some needed fruits. In this rate, no matter if you are consuming alkalizing food , anybody will see an enhancement in their health. Most critics disregard the need for the pH balance miracle diet.

But however, there are many people who experience good results after getting rid of wheat, which is an acidic food. Its not a product that one generally links with bad health, however, removing wheat has proved to be a godsend to loads of people who suffer the effects of an over-acidified meal. The quantity of alkalizing vegetables present in diet will surely do anyone good, no matter if they take the other parts of the diet seriously. By following eating of alkaline products, you would be enhancing the health irrespective of strictness of diet.

But this causes another famous criticism in the book. Most people say that pH miracle diet is way too strict for daily following. The reduction of foods like milk, animal protein and wheat seems too much for some. They can't imagine making it through a full day without consuming these food groups. Idea of restricting to a diet containing plant based food only seems too strict. However, most people who utilize pH miracle diet are seeing good results without having to be 100% rigid about the rules.

Like most other diets, pH miracle diet recommends steps to a better health. Emphasis here is on the steps. It's not reasonable to ask anyone for a total 180-degree change about his or her meal habits. Using a slower method for changing the diet will give longer and successful end results. If any diet is done word by word, it's very difficult at the start because mostly people are used to eating in a certain pattern. But with time and some practice , anyone can get better health through more of a H balanced diet.

Like with many other diets, the pH miracle diet outlines steps toward better health. The emphasis here is on steps. It is unreasonable to expect anyone to do a complete 180-degree change in his or her eating habits overnight. Taking a slower approach to changing your diet will create longer and more successful results. If the diet is followed word for word, it is difficult at first because people are so used to eating a certain way. With time and practice though, you can move toward better health and a more pH balanced diet.

Diet Foods

It is now extremely common to go to the supermarket and find foods and drinks available in its regular form and its "diet" counterpart. Foods and drinks that are called "diet" undergo modifications, typically decreasing the amount of certain substances present in the original versions. Usually, high-calorie components are substituted with low-calorie replacements. For example, whole grain foods use fiber, which contains no calories, as a replacement for starch.

Diet foods are usual components of a weight loss regimen, and are patronized most commonly by individuals who want to be thinner. These diet foods and drinks usually contain words such as "light", "lite", "low", "no", "zero" and "free". Each of these terms has a specific amount of substances allowed in the product. For example, "light" or "lite" foods contain 1/3 less calories or 1/2 less fat compared to the original, and 50% less sodium content.

There was a lot of controversy regarding the use of various terms to describe diet foods. In January of the year 1993, the FDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service qualified the use of these terms.

Diet foods and drinks will only work when consumed in the right amount. It is crucial that the individual understands how to adjust the diet and compute the calorie content of the food being eaten. Consciously replacing regular food with diet food can help the individual achieve a slow but generally steady weight loss.

Diet Pills

When conservative measures, such as diet and exercise, don't work, people usually turn to medications. Researches have estimated that over $6 billion is spent every year on diet pills. A study in 1992 revealed that almost 22,000 individuals use prescription weight loss pills. Of this number, 10% used multiple drugs in order to induce weight loss.

There are many diet pills available in the market, a number of which require prescriptions from a licensed physician. Diet pills that can be bought over-the-counter are usually herbal supplements containing substances that are not regulated.

Diet pills provide quick and easy weight loss, with few side effects. Unlike diet foods, most diet pills should only be used for a short period of time. Longer administration can result in increased tolerance to the drug and serious side effects.

Diet pills are recommended for people who are obese and require rapid weight loss. Remember that using diet pills is not a substitute for a reasonable diet and exercise regimen. Diet pills should be used as an adjunct, helping the individual's weight loss plan to kick off.

Combination Therapy

The combination of dietary therapy and drug therapy has been theorized to improve weight loss further. This is because the intake of weight loss pills actually promotes adherence of the individual to the diet regimen. Both diet foods and diet pills will work best when combined with healthy exercise and changes in habits and behavior.

For those trying to loose weight, choosing from the numerous weight loss programs can be quite a daunting task. The best solution to this problem is to decide not on a diet but a nutritional change of life. Dieting for a month or a year will not help if you return to old eating habits. Instead try and choose a diet that can be a consistent way of eating for years to come.

Know about some diet plans below and choose the best for you:

Atkins

The Atkins diet focuses on a high protein low carbohydrate diet. Because carbohydrates are used for energy, eliminating their intake forces the body to use fat stores. If breads, rice, and potatoes favorites then this might not be the right lifestyle choice.

South Beach

The South Beach diet also restricts carbohydrates. The South Beach diet does not allow consumption of bad fats. In addition this diet does not strictly count carbohydrates and allows carbs with a low glycemic index.

The Zone Diet

The Zone Diet plan is based on eating the correct combination of foods, 30% protein, 30% fat and 40% carbohydrates. For those who can enjoy the bad foods in extreme moderation this way of eating might work well.

Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet focuses more on keeping the heart healthy than losing weight. It focuses on eating a lot of vegetables and fruits and some nuts and wine and using good oils for cooking. Fish is encouraged while red meat is discouraged. Keep in mind weight loss will be slow.

Macrobiotic Diet

This diet is low fat, high fiber and is mostly vegetarian. In this meal plan whole grains make up about 50% of each meal. Vegetables make up about 30% and beans make up about 10% of the diet. Fish is allowed in very small amounts and meat, poultry and eggs are not permitted. This is a very restrictive diet and might not be a good lifestyle choice.

Gluten Free

A Gluten Free diet is mostly for those allergic to wheat. It avoids all foods containing gluten or from gluten cereals like wheat, rye or barley. In addition this does not promote weight loss.

Detox Diets

Most detox diets are liquid diets whose purpose is to rid the body of harmful chemicals and toxins. There are some special formulated liquids to aid in this type of diet and some people just drink hot water with lemon for a few days and consume nothing else. Obviously there is weight loss but this is not a long term nutritional plan.

While choosing a new nutritional lifestyle is advantageous to weight and health, good fitness programs should also be included. Aerobic activity and weight trains should be included in a fitness routine.