Which Diet is Best?

Now that I've lost 70 lbs., peole will often come up to me and ask me which diet I think is best. This puts me into somewhat of a dilemma, as there really is no such thing as a 'best' diet. Each of our bodies is unique and a diet that works best for one person may not work as well for another. Many people report having great success with Atkins,and several recent studies back them up, while still others swear by a low-fat diet.

I for one knew that if I were to be successful on a diet it would have to be one that allowed me to eat a wide variety of foods. You see, I don't do well at taking orders. It's a personality flaw, I know, but it's just the way I am. Tell me not to eat any carbs and I'll devuor a big ol' plate of pasta. Tell me not to eat any fat and I'll be hitting the cheesecake up like Scooby after an ounce of the chronic. It's a sickness, really.

But I think it's important to know one's weaknesses when choosing a diet. If you're the type of person that enjoys eating bread with every meal you should ask yourself if Atkins is really right for you. Similarly, if you like going out for a steak every Saturday then you might want to think twice before choosing a diet that restricts your intake of red meat. After all, it isn't like you're some stable horse that happily eats oats everyday for dinner. You need variety in your diet. In fact, it's a lack of variety that causes people to eventually abandon their diets.

This is why a Mediterranean-type diet worked for me. It allows for the benefits of a low-carb diet without discriminating against good low-glycemic carbs like those from beans and whole grains. And it allows for meats and healthy fats like olive oil, plus plenty of fruits and vegetables packed with fiber and phyto-chemicals.

First, know that olive oil is THE fat of choice. Yes, I know that butter is sometimes used, but olive oil is predominant. They make it everywhere from Greece to Italy to Tunisia, and it's healthy effect on the heart is the same no matter where it's made, especially if it's extra virgin olive oil. This of course doesn't imply that the other olive oils are whores, just that extra virgin was made from the first pressing of the olives, resulting in a greener, fuller and slightly fruitier oil with more heart-healthy compounds that can help to lower bad cholesterol levels (while raising the good, HDL levels) and lower your risk for heart disease.

Second, know that everyone drinks wine. However, please note that I am not suggesting that you should start drinking wine. But I do think it's wide-spread consumption helps to account for the French Paradox -- where the French have far lower rates of heart disease than Americans despite eating creamy, fatty foods. Besides the healthy flavanoinds in red wine, all alcohol acts as a blood thinner, keeping plaque from sticking to your arteries and keeping your veins pliant. Too much alcohol, though, will severely damage the heart. Moderation, as always, is key.

Third, know that size does matter. Portion-size, that is. For instance, unlike in America, Italians do not eat an enormous plate of spaghetti with two soft ball-sized meatballs on top. Rather, they would eat a potion of pasta about equivalent to that which would fit into a cereal bowl. And protein is rarely the star. Instead, it's just another course in a well balanced meal -- along with the salad, pasta, and cheese courses, amongst others. Italian cuisine being rooted in poverty, red meat was a luxury especially in regions that didn't have many cows. Meatballs (golf ball-sized) were a great way to extend and apportion a rare commodity. Fish, though, is plentiful, and easily finds it's way onto many Mediterranean plates, providing lots of healthy omega-fats.

Lastly, let's not overlook the human element. Mediterraneans have a certain joy of life and they take the time to appreciate good food and drink with friends and family, and this appreciation of life must at least in part account for some of their general well-being.

It's clear then why a Mediterranean diet appealed to me. More importantly was that it worked for me. But that doesn't mean that it's right for you. And following a diet was only one part of my weight loss program, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, meditation and taking natural herbs and supplements like calcium and hoodia gordonii.

In the end, you will have to find a weight loss program that works for you. One that you will be able to stick with. Certainly I've failed at more diets than I've succeeded with, but then nobody said it would be easy. Indeed, the road to weight loss is fraught with many chocolate-flavored pot holes, but with some perseverance and a little friendly advice I know you'll make it to the skinny end.