Most honest Diet researchers agree that “one size does not fit all.” Not everyone will succeed on the same diet plan. Each of us has a different gene pool, different metabolisms, different lifestyles and different access to food.

The problem is that every diet guru believes and preaches that his or her program is THE BEST. So, which one do you choose and how do you decide?

Here is an idea you might want to try: try them all for a minimum of four months each. Which one helped you to lose weight and which stalled weight loss?

Pick the one diet that attracts you the most – then follow it religiously for four months. Why four months? Because it takes time to shift our metabolism into accepting the diet and responding to it. Two weeks simply is not enough, nor is one month. Give four months a try. See how it goes.

Meticulously weigh and measure everything that goes into your mouth every day. Document it. I suggest the computer program Diet Power. It is easy to use, once you get used to it. It is downloadable, and it is free! It will also track your daily exercise and weight. It is based upon the low fat, high carbohydrate diet, controlled calories, so the nutritional advice that pops up follows that diet. It works for all diets.

Buy all the available books – or borrow them from the library – and read them thoroughly so you understand the rationale behind the diet. There are also on-line diet groups you can join to ask questions and get feedback. Search for articles on-line. Get as educated as possible about your diet.

Now – you have arrived at your four-month goal. How are you doing? How much weight have you lost? How much nearer to your weight loss goal are you? How much weight did you hope/expect to lose in four months? Remember that weight loss is like a see saw, your weight fluctuates from day to day and week to week. Some people expect to lose at least two pounds a week. Some do, most don’t. What were your expectations?

If your diet has not met your expectations, choose another one. Read all about it, clear out your pantry and refrigerator of all the food from your previous diet and go grocery shopping. Buy only the foods permissible on this new diet. Don’t be tempted to slip back to the previous diet.

Diet Power allows you to start a new diet with new goals. This way you can contrast your weight loss on this new diet from the old. Remember it will take your metabolism time to adjust to the new diet and you will undoubtedly get some physical symptoms due to the change in nutrients. But, again, persist and document for four months.

You are doing an experiment of one. You are looking for the diet most suitable for you that you can live with without hunger pangs. Keep reading up about foods that you may be allergic to – and eliminate them. Experiment with how many times a day you are eating – either snacks or meals. How much time do you allow between meals and snacks – that may make a difference. Do you find you are hungry again after some foods and not others? Eliminate them. Think of yourself as a diet detective. Besides weight loss, measure yourself at hip, chest and waist at the beginning of each new diet. Which diet helps you to lose inches as well as pounds?

Enjoy the adventure of self-discovery.