Written by Ted Frazer



“One size does not fit all"

Diets come…diets go. Some diets work for some people…and don’t work for others. Be it High-protein, Low fat, Low Carb, Low GI or even Low GL…if we haven’t learnt by now…there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all" diet.

To lose weight we need to consider that our dieting needs are unique and that to lose weight successfully, and for the long-term, we need to find an approach to eating that is individual, and not general.

There are always new and exciting dieting trends being promoted in the media. New authors promoting new dietary teachings and trends, claiming to have the single answer to permanent weight-loss. But how often have we seen popular authors come and go?…to be replaced by new authors, new diets…or existing authors releasing new books, new revised theories.

If one thing is clear, its that there cannot be a single dietary solution that suits everyone’s needs and physical make-up.

Some people responds positively to low-fat, high-carb diets, where others respond better to high-protein diets. Some people respond poorly to diets that are rich in grains, where others seem to find diets rich in complex grain carbs more favorable.

So how do we find a diet that works?

“Finding the shoe that fits"

The key is to find a diet that works for YOU.

There are countless diets to choose from, but before deciding which diet to follow, it makes sense to first consider your own individual “eating profile". Although this is mainly common sense, one could start by having a food allergy test – to test which foods cause an allergic reaction.

But in terms of common sense, most dieters know instinctively which foods cause both positive and negative reactions in their body’s. They know which foods they absolutely cannot sacrifice for extended periods or “avoid" and it is here that the roots for finding a long-term eating plan can be found.

Now, basic common sense also tells us that eating too much processed junk and sugar is not the path to successful dieting or wellness, and although there is much conflict within the various popular approaches to dieting, there are 5 key food groups over which the debate wages.

“The Big 5"

If we examine the various approaches to dieting, we usually find that the points of difference lie mainly in 5 separate groups of foods. Outside of these 5 groups, although there may still be points of difference, they are relatively minor when compared to the “Big 5".

These are:

•Starch & Grains

•Dairy

•Sugar

•Fat

•Meat

Fruits, vegetables and their derivatives are seldom brought into question, however, if there is a “dietary culprit" over which the authors of popular diet trends may disagree, the chances are it will be found amongst the “Big 5".

We typically hear about so many “problem foods" that we need to avoid, or even entire food groups that we need to restrict, and for many dieters, this may indeed be true.But the key aspect that is so often overlooked, is that for every dieter who responds positively to a specific diet…there is almost always another dieter who does not.

So whether it’s the GL approach promoted in the latest “Holford Diet" or the ever-popular high-protein approach as recommended in the “Atkins Diet" or perhaps another new diet or even a hybrid version of an already existing diet approach, no matter how scientifically sound, it is very unlikely to be an equally viable weight-loss and eating solution for everyone.