Weight loss efforts in the country are at an all-time high. It is estimated that the weight loss market is worth approximately $72.7 billion and is expected to grow through 2023. It seems as though people are constantly looking for the next big diet. If you are one of the ones looking for a weight loss solution, here are some of the country’s most popular options.
Ketogenic Diet
A ketogenic diet, which is commonly referred to as a keto diet, entails eating a very low carb and high fat diet. It has been popular for several years but seems to be trending more recently. People on keto diets eat a lot of meat, eggs, cheese and lots of non-starchy vegetables. Corn, for example, should not be eaten during a low carb eating regimen. In general, people try to consume less than 20 grams of carbohydrates each day. Although nuts are usually viewed as a keto diet friendly snack, you need to make sure nuts that you consume aren’t high in carbs.
HCG
Another popular weight loss method is known as the HCG diet. HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, which is sometimes referred to as the pregnancy hormone because it is made by the cells which are created in the placenta. It is found in a woman’s body during the early stages of pregnancy. This is an extremely low calorie diet comprised of foods that are very low in fat.
There is an initial 2-day period of “loading”, which entails taking the hormone along with a diet that’s high in calories and fat. After this brief period, you are restricted to a total of 500 calories per day and given a very strict eating protocol. You only eat two meals a day that are comprised of a low-fat protein, vegetables and a fat free breadstick. You can also enjoy one piece of fruit per day.
You can buy hcg online or in local health stores, but make sure it is a very high quality product. You will not see the same results if you use a poor quality version.
Intermittent Fasting
Although intermittent fasting has been around for ages, BBC journalist Dr. Michael Mosley created a documentary on the subject that caused large scale interest. As the name suggests, intermittent fasting means you occasionally fast, or refrain from eating food. There are several different models out there, which is one of the reasons this diet has caught on so quickly. Some people follow a 5:2 model, which means they eat for 5 days during the week and then fast for 2 days.
You can pick whichever days you choose to fast, but whenever you start you shouldn’t consume any food for the following 24 hours. Another popular model is the 16:8 diet, where you fast for 16 hours (including the time you are asleep), and then you eat during an 8-hour window only. Some experts encourage people to drink vegetable broth and teas during their fasts, while others maintain the strict view that you should only consume water during your fast.
