Every man is different when it comes to what works best when losing weight. For this reason, there are myriad diet plans for men, and radical differences exist between the plans. Some diets work best at the beginning of a weight loss regimen, and others help maintain a lower body weight. These differences make it important to know what types of diet plans for men exist before attempting weight loss. Among the types of diet plans for men are low-carbohydrate diets, calorie-restriction diets, meal plan diets and individualized diets.
One of the many diet plans for men is the low-carb diet. By cutting down the intake of carbohydrates and sugar to very low levels, the body must exert excess energy in digesting the fats and protein from food. This makes the body to start using its own fat stores for fuel, a process known as ketosis. Ketosis is beneficial as it causes hunger to drop. Though studies have shown that following a low-carb diet will cause weight loss, controversy still exists because this type of diet restricts the consumption of many healthy fruits and vegetables.
Another category of diet plans for men contains diets focusing on calorie restriction. These diets require a man to consistently record caloric intake and not go above a certain level every day. In setting up a diet, a man chooses how much weight he wishes to lose each week and adjusts caloric intake to his goal. Measuring weight every few days or once a week ensures a more accurate measurement of caloric needs. If a man wishes to eat more every day, exercising daily will allow him to do so.
For men who have tried other diet plans and find it difficult to lose weight, another option is enrolling in a weight-loss program that sells its own meals. These services, though often expensive, take the guesswork out of choosing appropriate food. The company sends or delivers prepared meals to the dieter while providing an education on better eating habits. This education is essential if the dieter plans to keep the weight off after the initial program has ended.
Out of all the diet plans for men, one that should not be forgotten is the plan that a man makes for himself. An individualized plan is generally a combination of the best parts of other diet plans a man has tried in the past. Though it might require trial and error, going through this process can lead to the creation of a plan that takes into account body type, metabolism, age and personal long-term goals.