Diets that Work Fast for Women

In today's image-driven age, women of all ages run from pillar to post in order to lose those few extra pounds that will give them their desired look or make them fit into a desired dress.

Although these fast diets work, and will no doubt help you achieve a considerable weight loss, it lasts only for a short term. This is because a massive weight loss achieved within a short period of time, especially without any exercise is only water loss. This weight loss is almost always regained when you revert to your normal eating habits.

For healthy and long-lasting weight loss, it is best to consult a dietitian who can come up with a diet plan which is suitable for you. Also, make sure you follow a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of water, get a good amount of sleep and exercise regularly to stay healthy. If you are looking to lose weight for an upcoming function, here are few diet plans.

Diet based on a 40:30:30 ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats; and popularized by a biochemist named Barry Sears in 1995. Ideally, a diet should contain 40% carbohydrates, 30% proteins and 30% fats, calculated using a zone diet calculator. When following this diet, you eat five meals a day, of which three are whole meals and two are light snacks.

Zone diet claims to improve intelligence, maintain hormonal balance, and increase energy in women. Eggs, bean stew, blueberry pancakes, and beef are some of the foods which are included in a zone diet. Celebrity followers include Demi Moore and Madonna.

The diet claims that you can lose up to 5 pounds in the first two weeks and 1.5 pounds per week after that.

The Good:

• More sensible than other diet plans.
• Few diet restrictions.
• Regulates insulin levels.

The Bad:

• No scientific evidence to back up the efficiency of the diet.
• Suggests eliminating many nutritious food.
• Might have to invest in books or online membership to follow the correct diet.
• Difficult to follow.
• Not for people with kidney dysfunction.

The diet works on a '5 and 1' plan which means five out of the six meals include ready-to-eat weight loss Medifast products like shakes, bars, soups, puddings, etc., and the sixth meal will be a small portion of lean meat, salads, and vegetables. The Medifast Company, which was established by Dr. William Vitale, started selling weight-loss products in 1980.

This diet claims to help you lose 2 to 5 pounds in a week.

The Good

• Ready-to-eat foods make the diet convenient.
• A large variety of foods to choose from.

The Bad

• Not suitable for everyone.

Around 1980, Dr. David J. Jenkins, a nutrition professor at the University of Toronto devised a diet plan for people suffering from diabetes. You eat only those foods which have a low glycemic index, or have very little effect on your blood sugar levels. As, these foods are digested slowly, they offer a prolonged source of energy and reduce food cravings.

Whole grain bread, skimmed milk, soy milk, low-fat ice-creams, and fat-free milk are also included in the low glycemic foods list. Celebrities who swear by this diet include Kylie Minogue and Sharon Stone.

Dieters claim to have lost up to 2 pounds per week.

The Good

• Helpful for women with PCOS.
• Lowers the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
• Helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels.

The Bad

• Calculating the GI of foods is confusing.
• Diet also suggests intake of various unhealthy food items merely due to their low GI.

This diet involves decreased intake of carbohydrates and consists of four phases - the induction phase, the ongoing weight loss phase, the pre-maintenance phase and the lifetime maintenance phase. In the induction phase, the carbohydrate intake is as low as 20 grams per day.

In the ongoing weight loss phase, the carbohydrate intake is slightly increased, while in the pre-maintenance phase, it is again raised by ten grams. The lifetime maintenance phase involves continuing with the habits which have been developed during the first three phases.

Candies, cookies, potatoes, bananas, and apples should also be avoided. Alcoholic drinks are a strict no-no for people following the Atkins diet. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Geri Halliwell, and Renee Zellweger are known to have followed this diet religiously.

The diet claims that you lose 6 - 10 pounds during the first phase, up to 3 pounds during the second phase and 1 pound per week in the fourth phase.

The cabbage soup diet is a 7-day detox diet, which includes consuming cabbage soup for seven consecutive days. The soup, which is extremely low in calories, is consumed along with fruits excluding bananas on the first day and, with vegetables like potato on the second.

For the third day, you are allowed to eat fruits and vegetables while the fourth day, you return to bananas. On the fifth day, the cabbage soup is coupled with beef and tomatoes; and again with beef and vegetables, on the sixth day. On the final day, it is eaten with rice and fruit juices. Celebrity followers include Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jaime Pressly.

The diet claims to help you lose 10 pounds in seven days

The Good

• Easy to follow.
• Quick and massive weight loss.
• Reduced food cravings.

The Bad

• The diet is very monotonous, thus making it difficult to follow.
• The diet is a very low-calorie diet.
• Lacks nutrition.

• Not suitable for all, thus consult a health expert.
• Advisable to lose not more than 2 pounds per week.
• Strictly avoided for pregnant women, breastfeeder, or suffering from any major health problems.
• If you meet any side effects, immediately stop following the diet.
• Once you are off the diet, make sure you stick to a healthy and well-balanced diet plan.

Disclaimer: The given content is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.