
Give yourself tangible assets to keep your motivation in reaching your weight loss goal high, too. "No matter what plan or diet you are following, unless you are motivated and really want change, it is going to be very difficult to follow," she says. Go beyond generic goals like "lose weight" and "get healthy." Dig deeper and find out why you're really embarking on a diet, Wunder encourages. "The hope is for people to make changes in their current diet that would point them in a healthier diet direction." Even the most popular diet won't help with weight loss or weight management if you're miserable. "An eating pattern should be enjoyable and interesting for someone to stick to it," she explains. But diets don't have to suck so bad, Wunder says. The word "diet" has such negative connotations because of the way it's thrown around regarding weight loss. On the other hand, Gillespie continues, "If we are allowed to have pretty much anything but with a focus on consuming less healthy foods in moderation, we are more likely to be successful." "When diets cut out or restrict entire foods or food groups, we feel like we are missing out on something (because we are)." "Diets are often most successful when they offer a wide variety of foods and we feel less restricted," she says. Just because you need to eat fewer calories to lose weight doesn't mean you have to eat fewer types of food for effective weight loss, Gillespie says. However, Wunder and Gillespie have concluded that some generic strategies tend to help most people take steps to losing body fat and meeting their weight loss goal. There's no best approach to weight loss: Everyone is different and will find success with a range of approaches to healthy eating. CNET talked to registered dietitians Emily Wunder and Kristin Gillespie to help make sense of successful dieting and get you started on the right track in your weight-loss journey.

If you're considering a subscription weight loss program like Jenny Craig or Noom, this guide to popular weight loss plans should help you evaluate the best weight loss program for your needs.

That said, dietitians say that while programs such as Weight Watchers and Optavia might kickstart your weight loss, a fad diet or quick fix won't necessarily set you up for long-term success. In fact, it's so hard that many people turn to online programs and done-for-you meal prep services for help. It requires determination, consistency and willpower, all of which can be pretty hard. Losing weight is one of the toughest things to do.
