It seems that everyday, we see an ad or read yet another article telling us about a new diet that is the "best weight loss diet". With all the conflicting advice, how do you decide which one is the right one for you? That decision needs to be based on your weight loss goal, your individual food tastes and your lifestyle. Many diets fail because these factors are not considered.

Your weight loss goal may only be to lose 5 pounds so that your jeans won't be quite so tight. You may want to lose that quickly and will only need to be on a diet program for as little as two to three weeks. If that is the case, then the "lose weight fast" plans may be a viable option for you. Most of those plans such as meal replacement with shakes, allow you to lose weight quickly. However, they are not usually very healthy and are not a good option for someone needing to lose more weight and be on a more long term weight loss plan. Long term use of such plans can be damaging to your health.

Your individual tastes in food also need to be considered when choosing a diet plan. For example, if you have a strong taste for salty, starchy foods, which are usually carbohydrates, the Atkins diet would probably be very difficult for you to maintain. You would do much better with a plan that allows more carbohydrates. Look closely at the foods allowed on the diet you are considering and seriously consider if you think you will be able to stick with it. While you are not going to find a healthy diet that lets you eat cookies or ice cream everyday, you probably won’t stick to one that consists only of foods that you dislike.

Finally, your lifestyle needs to be considered. If you are tied to a desk all day with very little flexibility in your routine, trying a diet plan that requires that you eat prepared food six times a day probably is not a good choice. Likewise, diets which require exotic foods or unusual food combinations will be difficult for someone who has a family of finicky children to cook for and keep happy.

You should never decide to follow a certain diet just because it is the latest craze or it worked for someone else you know. Stop and think about whether it is the right diet for your individual needs. The "best weight loss diet" is the one that best fits each individual dieter.