What Type of Diet is Best for You? | HBR Personal Training

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply live a healthier, more sustainable life: dieting is typically the largest consideration and stressor. The options are endless and it can be overwhelming figuring out which path to choose…

Do I go the low-carb route or the fasting route? Should I be counting calories and macronutrients? Can I have a cheat meal or not? Mediterranean diet, keto diet, whole30…

So how do you pick the right one? Simply choose the diet that you’ll actually stick to and enjoy the most! (Of course, some standard guidelines need to be considered depending on your goals)

We all remember the ‘food pyramid’ rules from grade school that classify whether or not something is healthy: fruits and vegetables = good, processed foods like crackers and cookies = generally bad. The distinction here is moderation, commitment, discipline, but most of all – enjoyment!

As long as you can stick to a relatively healthy diet (i.e. the 80/20 rule), the only decision left is finding out what works for you and your life. Compliance and sustainability are key.

Generally, the best diet is one supported by science. A diet that consists of whole food, plant-based options (yes, this can include animal proteins!) with the flexibility to be tailored to the individual is usually a great place to start. Find out what you enjoy and make sure that it’s within the parameters of your lifestyle. Dieting is just a broad framework of what you can and cannot eat. It is not a jail sentence.

Long story short: the diet that is best for you is the diet designed for you that you will stick to.