Paleo, South Beach, High-Fat, Vegetarian, Vegan, Atkins, Blood Type….Need we mention more? There are SO many diets out there! Which one is the right one? Which one works? Well, let's face it….All of them work…for SOMEBODY. The problem is that YOU are not just somebody. You are you, and in order to find the right diet, sometimes you have to experiment.

Recently, I did some experimenting of my own. I tried a high-fat diet after listening to this AWESOME podcast about it. I was sold. It seemed like the answer to everything. Guess what happened? I gained weight. My body did not like the diet. Do I think the diet is wrong? Absolutely not. In fact, I would probably recommend it to some people, who will probably lose weight from it. It is simply not the right diet for my body. So, how do we find the right diet for our bodies? Here are some pointers…

6 tips to finding our ideal diet….

1. Do some research, and make sure you fully understand the diet. Decide if this is a diet that you can do….forever. Does this diet fit into your life? Will you constantly be wanting something you cannot have?
2. Experiment. So, this is the hard and frustrating part of figuring it out. It's not fun and it is not easy. Sometimes, you will start off with a new plan, and your body will immediately react positively; but that is best case scenario. When experimenting, you should expect a full 14 days of having an upset stomach, being bloated, maybe some bathroom issues, and potential weight gain. This is your body getting used to something new, and you must push through this stage before the positive effects can take place. Don't be discouraged. It's just 2 weeks.
3. Follow the diet you chose for a full 30 days to the exact recommendations of the diet. Do not stray for 30 full days.
4. See how you feel on the diet AFTER 30 days. Don't evaluate the diet before then because remember, 14 days are going to be body adjustment time, which includes some pretty nasty side effects.
5. After 30 days, evaluate if this is a diet that you can do…forever. Consider doing the diet just as you have been, with maybe one day a week for some type of "treat."
   • Oooo, treats!? Treats do not necessarily mean ice cream…although they can. Perhaps your one day a week involves, chips + salsa, wine, chocolate, bread, sushi, a small plate of pasta…. The treat is something that your current diet doesn't want you to eat. On your one day a week, you can indulge in that treat, for one meal/snack. Don't throw away all your hard work for an entire day. Allow yourself a "treat" for one meal, one time in each week. Do yourself a favor and don't go overboard either! Make the treat big enough to satisfy the craving, but not crazy enough to sabotage your hard work!
6. If the diet failed, don't give up! Go back to the research stage, and try something new. Remember, we are all snowflakes in this world. What works for one person, will not work for everyone. You will find a diet that works great for you, you just have to find it.

Best of luck!

Have fun & Be Active
Rebecca from Build it for Life

Written by: