How to Diet In 2017: Lose Weight In The New Year With These Top 5 Tips

Every year, people across the U.S set resolutions and goals to start on New Year’s Day, and in most cases, losing weight is at the top of that list. More than likely, 2017 resolutions will be no different and plenty of people will begin diets and exercise routines that more often get abandoned before Valentines Day.

However, for people who are looking to make a change in the new year and actually stick to it, below are the top diets to try in the new year.

5:2 Diet: This plan is aimed to not only help people lose weight, but it reportedly helps with brain function and increases lifespan if followed properly. Dieters can eat regularly for five days a week, although clean eating is advised. The following two days of the week, 5:2’ers must fast, aka not eat. Although skipping meals can lead to feelings of dizziness, headaches and dehydration (drink lots of water on the off-eating days), restrictive diets can be a great way to lose body fat, reduce risks of chronic diseases and provide insulin resistance, according to First Level Fitness, a website dedicated to healthy eating and exercise.

Paleo Diet: Diets relying heavily on meat intake have been trending for years, and the paleo diet will continue to be go-to for many dieters in 2017. Sometimes referred to as the caveman diet, paleo plans require people to eat food that can be fished, hunted and gathered, meaning no cereal grains and no processed foods. It is generally considered a high-protein, low-carb diet, with most carbohydrate and sugar consumption coming from fruits and hearty vegetables. There are no specific guidelines, other than to eliminate processed foods and grains, making it one of the less restrictive diets to follow.

Blue Zone Diet: This diet was inspired by people who have lived to be over 100 years old, most of whom come from Mediterranean areas and follow Mediterranean diets. It is a fairly simple diet to follow, mostly mandating for people to avoid fried, greasy and processed foods. Followers should mostly consume plants and beans, and if they do eat meat, they should only have it in small portions of three to four ounces. The smallest meal of the day should be consumed in the late afternoon or evening, and dieters should stop eating when the stomach is 80 percent full. For drinkers participating in the Blue Zone Diet, it’s encouraged for alcoholic beverages to be consumed in moderation regularly, meaning no more than one to two drinks a day.

Dukan Diet: This four-phase diet is similar to the paleo plan as it is rich in protein consumption but low in carbs. Dieters can eat as much as they want as long as they follow the rules, which change during each phase. The first phases consist of strictly eating lean protein, which options can be found from a list on the Dukan website, including 72 protein-rich foods including eggs, chicken, turkey and fish. Dieters are not allowed to eat any fats or vegetables during the first phase. Vegetables, carbs and fruits are gradually reintroduced to the diet in the following four phases. About two pounds a week can potentially be lost in dieters who see the Dukan Diet all the way through. This diet isn’t necessarily balanced nutritionally, but if rapid weight loss is on the menu it’s a great choice as long as rules are thoroughly followed.

Weight Watchers: This is a plan that even Oprah Winfrey has gotten behind. Members who sign up for the dieting service will receive meal plans and even have access to a Weight Watchers coach, who will help them track their nutrition and fitness goals, and weight loss.