Two of the more famous fat loss programs followed by a large number of people around the world are the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet.  These two diets are fairly similar in that they both limit starchy or sugary foods.  Most fruits and grains and alcohol are not permitted during the first phase of the diet. This is to train your body to stop craving high sugar carbs.

Under the South Beach weight loss program, participants are required to undergo an induction phase of fourteen days where certain foods including fruits and most other high sugar, high carbohydrate foods are forbidden.  The dieter is taught to make better food choices that promote faster fat loss.

Even so, some critics believe that most the weight lost during this period is mainly from water which is easily regained.  But unlike other diets, hunger pangs and cravings are substantially reduced. as snacking during certain times is permitted.

The Atkins fat loss program is much more restrictive in that nearly all carbs are forbidden for the duration of the diet and beyond.  Atkins advocated the concept that the body should be a fat-burning machine, a process which is induced when the body must burn its own fat rather than through food sources provided by carbs.  Controversial at best, this diet claims to be heart and cholesterol friendly, but seems counterintuitive given the high amounts of fat and protein allowed.  Even so, there are lifetime adherents to this diet.

Once you’ve reached your desired weight under the South Beach diet, you then go into a lifetime maintenance phase where you continue to eat healthy foods that nourish your body as intended without having to count calories. On the other hand the Atkins Diet continues to advocate abstinence from most carbohydrates for life. While this fat-burning stage will yield desirable results at first, it is questionable if most people can adhere to such a restrictive diet for extended periods of time.

One type of popular fat loss program calls for internal cleansing and fasting to rid the body of toxins and allow for faster weight loss.  Of these programs, the lemon juice diet is one of the more well known.  Under this weight loss program, the individual is required to fast and can only drink a beverage made from lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper along with purified water for a period of up to ten days.  Once the cleanse is completed, the individual can gradually incorporate solids back into the diet.

Although the different types of popular  fat loss programs may work to varying degrees, there are legitimate questions regarding the safety of continuing on these diets for extended periods.  You are better off consulting with your doctor if you need to lose a lot of weight.  As with anything else in life, all things in moderation and balance is a more prudent undertaking, especially when it comes to your health.