Some people tend to confuse the word “healthy” with “gentle” when it comes to weight loss matters. And while there is nothing wrong with being kind to your body, there is also no rule against losing weight at a break-neck pace, despite what some diet companies may tell you.

In fact, I’ve actually observed something that I find a bit suspect when it comes to companies that tell you to aim for 3 to 4 pounds of weight loss per month, and no more. It seems that just about all of the companies that throw those numbers in your direction actually have a vested interest in keeping you fat as long as possible. They tell you it’s working so that you continue buying their products or advice, but it keeps you overweight long enough for them to really cash in for months and years.

The truth is, your body is an incredible machine with its own built-in “weight thermostat.” If you start feeding yourself the right foods and eliminate all the stuff that has been forcing your body to store fat, it will aim to reach its optimal weight and vitality levels EXTREMELY quickly! Think of it like a basketball being held under water. Once you let go of the ball, does it take its sweet time resurfacing? Same with your body resurfacing to a healthy weight.

So a healthy diet can (and should) work fast! The diet you choose should be determined by how much weight you need to lose, how fast, and how much sacrifice you’re willing to make (and for how long). Here are five healthy diets for you to consider. They have proven themselves fast and effective time and time again. They are listed in order of both speed and intensity, with #1 being the most extreme and #5 being the “easiest.”

1. The Master Cleanse (aka the Lemonade Diet) – This is a 10-40 day fast in which you consume nothing but a saltwater flush, a special lemonade (lemon, water, grade b maple syrup, and cayenne pepper), and laxative tea. You can lose up to 2 pounds a DAY on this diet.

2. The Raw Food Diet – This healthy diet plan is exactly as the name implies. Raw fruits, veggies, and herbs along with their fresh squeezed juices. Raw nuts and seeds. Organic sprouts. Superfoods such as bee pollen, goji, and spirulina. You can undoubtedly enjoy ultra fast weight loss and perhaps even sustain a healthy body weight long-term, provided you’re willing to adhere to an “off the beaten path” type of lifestyle.

3. Veganism – Love thy animals, but never on thy dinner plate! Veganism, as most of us know, is a 100% animal-free diet. Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily suggest that your diet is healthy, as you could theoretically eat Skittles all day and still be going vegan. Read up on healthy veganism and follow a proven plan.

4. The Mediterranean Diet – Do you love crisp, green veggies? How about cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil? Fresh fish? If you follow this extremely healthy diet plan, not only can you lose weight very quickly, but you can expect to enjoy clear and radiant skin, bright eyes, nice hair, and a longer life!

5. The Paleo Diet – Eat like a caveman! That’s their motto. This is a very flexible diet that allows you to eat fresh lean meat, fruits and veggies, certain whole grains, and basically anything that can be hunted or harvested in Nature.

These are some of the healthiest diets on the planet. Not coincidentally, they are also among the fastest. Look into each healthy diet, determine what you think you could implement and stick with, and go for it. Some people like to do 10 days (minimum) on the Master Cleanse and choose which of the remaining four diets they will implement afterward.

While our bodies aren’t so rigid that only one approach can work to get rid of stubborn body fat, there are unquestionably weight loss diet programs with much higher success rates than the others. If properly followed, the low-calorie lifestyle is among the most effective diet models of all time. But there are a few others that produce consistent, predictable results as well. Here is a list of the top 3…

1. The Paleo, or “Caveman” Diet. This is basically the process of eating nothing but natural food, including fruits, vegetables, meat, raw nuts, sprouts, etc. You basically eat the way our ancestors ate… you know, back before obesity, heart disease, and cancer were all just a way of life. Also look into “the Diet Solution Program.”

2. The Raw Food Diet. Adhering to this lifestyle is akin to a person joining a Buddhist monastery. It is all or nothing, and you must commit yourself to it 100% – virtually turning it into a major part of your identity. This dietary lifestyle consists of consuming ONLY uncooked produce. Raw nuts, seeds, cold pressed oils, fruits, vegetables, and fresh herbs will pretty much make up your entire diet.

Fresh squeezed juice is commonplace with this diet, as are blended sauces, dressings, and dips. I recently saw one that consisted of tomato, avocado, basil, and jalapeno. It was used as a dip for raw broccoli. If you want to go extreme, and lose A LOT of weight, this may be a lifestyle plan worth considering.

3. The Mediterranean Diet. This is a lot like the Paleo Diet, but with a more limited menu. This diet is comprised mainly of healthy fats, lean protein, and fresh produce. Chiefly, this weight loss diet relies heavily upon olive oil, fish, and crisp greens. I would say the intensity of this diet falls somewhere between the first two.

You really can’t go wrong with any of these 3 eating plans. By far the Paleo Diet and Diet Solution Program are the easiest to stick with long-term, while the Mediterranean Diet is considered by many to be the healthiest of these three options. Supporters of the Raw Food movement would argue with this, however, claiming that animal products and cooked foods lack the enzymes and electrical output necessary to live at the very highest level possible.

Whichever weight loss diet you choose, please take the time to discuss your choice with a health care practitioner you trust, just for extra piece of mind and maybe even some really good advice that can help you get even greater results.

The Raw Food Diet is exactly what the name suggests. It is a diet that consists primarily (75% – 100%) of raw vegetables, herbs, sprouts, nuts, seeds, and fruits. You can have basically any variety of these things, but they must never be heated to over 116 degrees fahrenheit, as this will end up destroying valuable enzymes and fiber.

You are encouraged to own and utilize a juicer. In fact, it will become one of your very best friends on this lifestyle plan, as you can end up drinking several glasses of juice each day. Fresh fruit and/or vegetable juice makes the absolute ideal breakfast, as it provides a mega burst of healthy energy, yet requires almost zero energy to digest.

As you can imagine, this diet takes an incredibly strong commitment. In addition to changing the foods you consume, you will most assuredly need to transform the way you think. Your relationship with food will change, as well. You will no longer be eating for comfort or to get full, but to fuel up and energize your cells.

Yes, the commitment is huge, but if you are one of the few who are able to make the transformation into the Raw Food Diet, the rewards will absolutely astound you. For one, you will feel happier, more vibrant, and ambitious. Naturally, the pounds will just melt off your body, creating a leaner and lighter you. Your mind will become crystal clear, your memory enhanced, and your skin radiant and blemish-free. Several men and women suffering from hair loss have reported hair regrowth by going raw.

The Raw Food Diet also frees you from fear. Your chances of becoming seriously ill go way down, as your immune system becomes stronger and stronger. And while I’m not here to make any medical claims of any kind, most professionals agree that a diet high in raw, fiber-rich, water-rich foods can actually extend your life… possibly by a lot!

Obviously, the Raw Food Diet won’t appeal to everyone. It’s one of the most “extreme” eating plans on the planet, even beating out veganism (essentially, this is a vegan diet, but even more extreme, as the vegan lifestyle still allows for the cooking process). If you think you can hack it, though, I would highly encourage you to do some serious research and learn as much as you can. Prepare yourself. And then give it your very best effort!

I have heard this diet being compared to the South Beach Diet on numerous occasions, and this is certainly a fair comparison. It is an eating plan which is primarily made up of lean meats and fresh vegetables, but again, the specifics of the Mediterranean Diet are really what set it apart from the rest.

For example, red meats, eggs, and dairy are very seldom used on this eating plan. Individuals residing in the countries and territories surrounding the Mediterranean most often consume fish as their source of animal protein. Another key distinction is the fact that this animal protein is one of the last priorities on the diet.

In fact, fresh vegetables and fruits rule the land! Olive oil and whole grains take second place, followed by wild fish and small amounts of red wine.

The key is healthy fats, primarily Omega-3 fatty acid, which is absolutely wonderful for raising the good cholesterol while lowering the bad. And because this high level of unsaturated fat is super clean burning, it actually trains your body to use fat as fuel… including your much hated body fat!

One reason so many people have turned to the Mediterranean Diet as their weight loss plan of choice is the incredible health-enhancing benefits they believe it to include. Common sense will tell you that these people are not off-base in this belief. In fact, when is the last time you heard that a diet high in fruits and vegetables, keen on whole grains and Omega fatty acids, and rich in antioxidants was bad for you? Most likely, never.

The antioxidant properties of this diet have been shown to be beneficial in combatting heart disease (hello, the number one killer in the Western World!) and certain forms of cancer (not too far behind)… this is a diet that anyone who values their health, and not just quick weight loss, can get behind.

Not only is this eating plan safe, effective, healthy, and logical… but it’s not weird! What do I mean? The ingredients are very basic and are available in any grocery store. This provides a kind of convenience that many diet plans can’t seem to provide.

Since I first heard of the Mediterranean Diet (maybe 10 years ago), I have yet to hear one bad word uttered against it. It’s practically the poster child for what common sense would tell you is a healthy, responsible diet. Crisp, fresh produce, unaltered grains, fresh wild fish, and lots of healthy cold-pressed olive oil. Hey, is anyone else getting hungry?

As most of us are well aware, the “king” of this type of eating plan is the Atkins Diet. On this diet, you go through a series of three phases that gradually increase the amount of carbohydrates you are permitted to include in your diet on a daily basis. The first of these phases is called induction, which limits you to virtually no carbs whatsoever.
You are permitted to eat all the animal protein you care to consume, but no bread, pasta, potatoes, sweets, or anything else containing carbs are allowed to pass your lips.

Supporters of this program claim that the induction phase is where the magic happens, while its opponents will tell you that it’s suicidal insanity. This phase is dependent upon your body being thrown into a state of ketosis, where ketones are being expelled in the urine, indicating that your body’s fat is now being used as its preferred source of energy. The result of this is extremely rapid weight loss, healthy or not.

I can tell you from personal experience that this diet is effective. I lost 18 pounds my first 14 days on this program. And I experienced both the positive and negative effects that both sides of the issue continually argue.

Despite what some people may say, I found that my energy levels and overall sense of well-being were improved. I was eating steak, eggs, cheese, and bunless burgers constantly… and my feelings were not those of death that opponents of the low carb diet try to scare you with. I felt good. But I was really bored with my diet, which I thought was a fair trade-off given the weight loss results I was enjoying.

They also say that carbohydrates are the primary fuel source used by the brain, yet I felt no mental or emotional consequences of this diet. What I didn’t enjoy about the diet was the heaviness of the food. Meat, cheese, eggs, cheese, and meat. It was enough to bring a PETA representative to tears! I guess in my soul, it didn’t feel like the right thing to do.

So here’s my conclusion. If you want to lose a crazy amount of weight in a very short period of time, keep yourself energized, and don’t mind being a straight up carnivore in every sense of the word, then a low carb diet may be right up your alley. There are more lenient variations a person can consider, as well. The South Beach Diet is another popular low carb diet that may be easier for you to stick with.

One of the first questions people ask before beginning this ambitious undertaking is this: Is the Lemonade Diet actually healthy? I’ve heard this subject debated on more than one occasion, with opponents of the “diet” (which is more accurately described as a liquid fast) claiming that the acids in the lemon can rot your teeth, while others claim that lemons actually have an alkalizing effect on the body, which is always great for energy and weight loss.

Another subject that often arises is the difficulty of this diet. As common sense might suggest, going without food can be unpleasant, to say the least. I know. I’ve tried fasting myself, and by the second day I was absolutely obsessed by the thought of food. I sincerely couldn’t focus on anything else. I broke my fast with a celery stick… then a cup of yogurt… and then some pizza, but that’s neither here nor there!

The bottom line is that it’s tough. Really tough. I’ve watched YouTube videos of people who have gone on the Lemonade Diet with a 21 day goal in mind, who ended up being very happy with their 14 day run. While they obviously fell a week short of their initial goal, they considered it to be quite an accomplishment nonetheless. Besides, different sources recommend different durations for this process, with 10 days being accepted as the standard in many circles.

So what exactly is this diet? Well, you begin each morning with a saltwater flush which is designed to cleanse your digestive system. This will make you go to the bathroom like nobody’s business, but that’s the point. You want to expel your toxins, which in and of themselves contribute to much of your excess weight and feelings of lethargy (and even depression).

After this, you can drink as much lemonade as you want. Of course, this is a very specific lemonade, consisting of fresh squeezed lemon juice, purified water, grade b maple syrup (or agave syrup), and cayenne pepper. This combination of ingredients is designed to alkalize the blood, hydrate the system, flush toxins from the kidneys and digestive tract, and even assist in cleansing the joints and muscles.

Many people who have stuck to this daily regimen of a morning saltwater flush (using sea salt and purified water), followed by unlimited quantities of lemonade, have experienced weight loss as significant as two pounds per day! So while the Lemonade Diet may be quite challenging to actually adhere to, its benefits and effectiveness are by no means in question.

We’ve all seen it. One health guru tells you that in order to lose weight and build lean muscle, you’ve got to eat lots of lean protein and very few carbs. A week later, you’re exposed to another health guru (just as renowned as the first) telling you that common sense tells us that we need less and less protein as we get older, that this fact is obvious when you look at the composition of a mother’s milk as her baby gets older (the protein decreases), and that the animals we eat for protein didn’t get their protein by consuming protein, but rather amino acids.

Is milk good for you… or terrible? Does veganism create weak, frail people… or absolute powerhouses? Does consuming fat actually make you fat? Depending upon the book you’re currently reading, the “official” answers to these questions can vary wildly.

So here’s what I propose. It is the most common sense approach known to man. Follow results! Try something for a week and monitor your progress. If you’re headed in the right direction, continue. Otherwise, follow the next guru’s advice for a week and see how that works for you.

If this level of trial and error doesn’t appeal to you, consider the commonly accepted truth that diet plans that have you consuming fewer calories than you use are going to work every time. That’s just the way the body is designed. Regardless of any of the latest diet trends that may tell you that calories don’t matter, use your own common sense on this one.

Extra calories are stored as body fat. This fat is full of calories (units of energy). If you keep stuffing yourself with more calories than you use, then your body will continue to store them. On the other hand, when you use more calories than you consume, your body will pull from your fat reserves in order to fuel itself. Any diet plans that try to debunk this well-known fact are immediately subject to suspicion from where I stand.

What’s really funny to me about a lot of these genuinely convincing programs is that they try to pitch their diet by claiming that you can eat whatever you want and don’t have to do much exercise. What you eat and how you move your body are ALL that matter when it comes to losing weight. The fresher and more natural your food, the better. And the more you exercise, the better (within reason).

Of course, there are many formulations out there, and if you’re lucky enough to find one that helps you achieve the results you want without a bunch of freakish side effects, then good for you. The problem is, these can be kind of hard to find if you don’t know where to look.

And while the chemicals found in some of the industry’s hardcore formulas can cause heart palpitations, blood poisoning, extreme nausea, incredible anxiety, and a whole host of other unpleasant symptoms, other diet pills have truly proven themselves to work wonders for some of their users.

The majority (if not all) of diet pills that can be deemed both safe and effective will be all natural formulations with strong antioxidant properties. These are great because they help you lose weight the right way. Instead of trying to fuel up your metabolism with a bunch of weird chemicals, antioxidants actually remove toxins from your body.

And guess what your body’s greatest defense against toxins is… storing fat! Extra fat blocks dangerous toxins from damaging your organs, tissues, and blood vessels. Essentially, your body holds onto more and more fat in order to save your life! So if you get rid of the toxins, your body no longer has a reason to store extra fat, and off it comes. Pretty cool, right?

These antioxidant-rich diet pills will usually contain large amounts of green tea extract. Other popular antioxidants used in diet pills include resveratrol, acai, maqui, and goji.

Other natural diet pills that are used to assist in the weight loss process would fall into the category of “detoxification pills,” and would include such things as colon cleansers, liver cleansers, blood cleansers, and total body cleansers. Often, these types of diet pills will create a sense of healthy renewal and well-being within the individual who takes them… quite the opposite of the effects experienced by people who go the chemical route.

In truth, diet pills are simply not enough to give you the results you’re after. There is not a single diet pill on the planet that I would recommend over a natural, healthy way of eating and an activity plan that works your body and puts a smile on your face at the same time.

Diet pills are supplements, and as such are intended to be used to supplement a responsible, healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle always comes first. Remember that and live by it, and you will be much more effective in reaching your health and weight loss goals.

3 Steps to Overcoming Common Dieting Obstacles:

1. Go natural. The closer you can get your diet to 100% natural, the better off you will be. This means instead of buying a frozen or prepackaged meal, do some actual produce shopping. Buy fresh, lean meats. And don’t be afraid to prepare meals yourself. There are many diet plans out there that rely almost solely on you “eating like a caveman.” When you eat like this, it won’t even feel like you’re eating diet food!

2. Vary your flavors and textures. One reason that people typically hate diet food is that not all flavors and textures are being represented in their meals. People like things to be chewy, salty, juicy, sweet, starchy, meaty, crunchy, spicy, flaky, and a vast array of other things.

Instead of fighting this natural desire for variety, embrace it. Incorporate “heavy” foods like mushrooms and avocados, stick to lean meats such as chicken, turkey, and fish. Try spaghetti squash for a sweet, hearty crunch. Sprinkle some sea salt on green apple slices. Let your own imagination serve you well.

3. Buy in bulk and clip coupons! The greatest way to save money on your grocery bill is to go into the store with a plan, a budget, and a pocket full of coupons! Seriously, I can’t stress enough how much you can actually save yourself when you buy big family packs of meat, take advantage of “buy one get one free” offers, and use coupons.

You may also want to check out the meat department’s “discounted meat” selection. If the freshness looks questionable, don’t bother… but I have found many, many great bargains on healthy “diet food” just by taking advantage of clearance items. Just remember to invest in some freezer bags and fill your freezer to capacity!

These three steps can truly go a long way in making diet food not only a heck of a lot more enjoyable, but a practical and affordable alternative to the garbage that continually contributes to our obesity, heart disease, stroke, and cancer epidemics.

The truth is, any time you decide to give your body the gift of cleanliness, purity, and renewal, anyone who would try to talk you out of it would be an absolute fool. And here’s the kicker. I have actually heard people suggest that this is a great way to get healthier and more energized, but shouldn’t be used as a primary means of weight loss. I couldn’t disagree more.

Body fat is a defense mechanism. It protects your vital organs, blood vessels, sensitive tissues, cells, and even nerves from acids and pollution within the bloodstream. The fat cells grab onto these dangerous chemicals, essentially trapping them and blocking them from doing damage to the body’s critical players. In football terms, fat cells are your body’s offensive linemen!

But if you’ve got weight to lose, then a detox diet can help the body start getting rid of these toxins, while preventing new toxins from entering. As a result, your body will no longer have any need to hold onto excess fat, and alas, fat loss becomes totally effortless, healthy, and substantial. On certain detox diet plans, you can SAFELY lose up to two pounds a day!

Of course, you don’t want to remain on a detox diet permanently, generally keeping 30 days as your absolute maximum. However, you can implement them several times within a given year. Many nutritionist recommend a 14 day detox once per quarter (4 times per year).

There are many detox diets to choose from, each with varying degrees of intensity and effectiveness. Perhaps the most extreme is a fast, where you will only drink purified water for the entire duration of your cleanse. There are other variations of a fast, such as a green drink cleanse and the Master Cleanse (aka the Lemonade Diet). Another popular and well-respected detox diet is the Raw Food Diet, which can actually end up becoming a permanent lifestyle plan if followed correctly.

Naturally, you will want to consult with your trusted health care practitioner, who will ideally be someone who is well versed in preventive, natural medicine as opposed to being a gung-ho pharmaceutical pusher who’s only interested in treating symptoms and ignoring causes. A doctor with a good balance of prevention and treatment focus is a great choice. Talk to him or her about your desire to lose weight with a detox diet and see if they have any recommendations that will meet your specific needs.