There are hundreds of diets around. Some are little more than ancient, tattered, many-times-copied sheets of paper, handed from friend to friend. Others are written up in big, fat hardcover books. These might cost as much as a nice meal at a family restaurant. Or you might find them for less than a buck on the discount rack. Some diet plans are touted on television. The commercials often feature a formerly-fat celebrity who bleats joyfully about the merits of the plan.

Some diet plans involve meetings, where a group discusses their problems with food. The support dynamics of a group may inspire you to greater achievement. Many diet plans include packaged meals to purchase. You may or not enjoy these meals, and you may or may not find them cost-effective. And there are so many more…

But what is really the best diet for you?

The answer depends on your situation. Maybe you are trying to drop a few pounds to fit into that slinky dress in time for your cousin’s wedding. Or your doctor may have told you that if you don't lose sixty pounds you are risking a sudden heart attack. Your needs may be somewhere between these situations.

It can actually be easier to lose a lot of weight than to lose just a few stubborn pounds. The more weight you need to lose, the faster it can come off. In other words, the further you are from your ideal weight, the more effective a weight-loss program can be.

Conversely, when you are closer to your ideal weight — unless you are very athletic — you may find it harder get the fat off, because you are already close to your right weight. This is difficult, but not impossible. People refer to this phenomenon as hitting a plateau.

Find and follow a meal plan that contains foods that you enjoy — and that is healthy and well-balanced. Keep a journal where you record everything that you consume. Studies show that people who follow this simple suggestion are much more successful than people who don’t. And remember that fad diets can be terrible for your health.

The best diet for you is the one that you will stick with for as long as you need it. With the right diet plan, you can lose the excess pounds, and you can keep them off forever.