Calorie-counting diets need not be rigid and restrictive, although you do need to be mindful of your total calorie intake and exercise output if you want to lose weight. The so-called No-Fad Diet developed and touted by the American Heart Association is based on three principles:
Think Smart. Will power helps, but planning is the key to successful weight loss, especially when following a calorie-counting diet. The No-Fad Diet asks participants to think ahead and identify barriers to achieving a healthier diet and lifestyle and make plans to address them. The No-Fad Diet also advocates writing down your goals and reassessing them periodically.
Eat Well. This is the calorie-counting part of the diet. The American Heart Association website has a calorie counting section as do many other diet websites. The site also offers tips for cutting calories, such as substituting low-fat or skim milk for regular milk.
Move More. The “more fit and less fat” aspect of the No-Fad Diet is just what it sounds like: Exercise. If you are numbers-oriented, the AHA website lets you calculate your target heart rate and idea weight range, but it also supplies tips for how to fit more exercise into your day, such as parking farther from your destination and walking.
The No-Fad Diet suggests that once you have met a weight loss or other diet goal, you can focus less on calorie counting. Once you are maintaining your weight, you can try new combinations of eating and activity plans to see what suits your needs and lifestyle.
DietTV.com has your best and full review for each diet plan with pictures of what you can/can't eat.
