Which Of The 5 Weight Loss Types Will Work Best For You?

Trying to lose weight may start off fun and exciting, but if you don't have the right strategy in place, it doesn't take long for discouragement to settle in — and that's an easy way to fast-track into completely giving up. While diet and exercise play a crucial role, they don't tell the whole story. According to Aaptiv, sleep, stress, age, hydration, genes, medication, and medical conditions all play a factor. It's important to create a game plan that specifically tailors to the full picture of your individual needs.

Via Mindbodygreen, integrative medicine doctor Taz Bhatia says a sustainable weight loss program restores balance by taking your hormones and mindset into consideration right along with diet and exercise. Based on the principles of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, Bhatia created five weight loss types that take stock of all of these data points. By finding which personal weight loss type resonates with you, chances are you'll be better positioned for hitting your weight loss goals once and for all.

If your weight loss type is Warrior, Mindbodygreen says you can pretty much handle whatever life throws at you, until you just can't do it anymore. Once you reach that breaking point, it's a wrap. Being overwhelmed and stressed out isn't good for anyone, and it's especially bad on a Warrior's gut. As a result, it's not uncommon for you to experience issues with digestion or inflammation. For that reason, it's a good idea to take special care of your liver. In other words, find a substitute for that cocktail or glass of wine you drink to take the edge off.

As for your diet, it would be good to try healthy fats such as avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and coconut. In terms of exercise, both your body and brain will benefit from high-intensity interval training (HIIT) followed by chill workouts such as yoga and tai chi.

If you have a medium to large frame and have the tendency to struggle with weight loss more than most people, Mindbodygreen says it's likely your weight loss type is the Protector. Bhatia says that it's not uncommon for you to battle Candida overgrowth, which Healthline refers to as an overgrowth of yeast in the body. If you often feel bloated, it could be due to Candida overgrowth or another bacteria imbalance. It's ideal to cut your intake of added sugar, limit refined carbs, and reduce how much alcohol you drink.

According to Bhatia's Ultimate Weight Loss Guide, intermittent fasting is great for you. She recommends starting by eating for just 10 hours a day, then reducing it to 8 hours a day. Bhatia also suggests giving a vegan or predominantly plant-based diet serious consideration. As for exercise, she says that three or four intervals of 20 minutes of exercise each is the most effective route to take.

Bhatia's Ultimate Weight Loss Guide says Anchor weight loss types are the love child of the Warrior and Protector. For Anchors, trying to balance your own goals and desires with what everyone else needs from you can be super stressful, and Bhatia warns that it may even cause hormonal imbalances that make your body hold on to weight. If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night or carrying the bulk of your weight in your stomach or chest area, you may be an Anchor. Anchors can also struggle with losing hair.

Also like the Protector, intermittent fasting may be a good idea for you. It's also ideal to eat an anti-inflammatory diet. For you, Bhatia notes that taking care of your body is a balancing act that's best achieved by alternating between adrenaline-pumping workouts (such as running, spinning, and HIIT) and adrenaline-lowering workouts (such as yoga, Pilates, or walking).

Mindbodygreen defines the Creative weight loss type as being, well, creative, and having a small to medium build. Creative types may experience anxiety and have difficulty focusing. If this resonates, your blood sugar may peak and drop throughout the day, which can make you feel a bit moody. According to Bhatia, it's not uncommon for you to have stubborn belly fat, feel sluggish in the afternoon, and want to stay up all night.

What you need most to thrive in life is structure and that includes when you eat. In her Ultimate Weight Loss Guide, Bhatia says to eat every 3 to 4 hours instead of engaging in intermittent fasting. Protein and iron are your best friends, so the paleo diet may be helpful. Get your carbs from gluten-free grains such as sweet potatoes and quinoa. Walking, yoga, Pilates, swimming, and weight training are good grounding exercises for you.

Part Creative, part Warrior, Mindbodygreen says the Trailblazer weight loss type is made up of the multitaskers in life. Bhatia notes that trailblazers are often entrepreneurs and project managers, for example, and they have a bad habit of burning the candle at both ends. Sound familiar? If so, Bhatia's Ultimate Weight Loss Guide says you probably experience fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and sleep issues more than you care to admit. Hormonal imbalance may also be common for the Trailblazer. Since you have a tendency to do the most, structure and routine are necessary for you to avoid a crash.

Eating well-balanced, high-protein meals every 3 to 4 hours is the ideal Trailblazer diet. Though you're not intermittent fasting, try not to eat after 8 p.m. when you're tempted to snack on sugary and salty foods. A mix of cardio with a couple of sessions of weight training every week is a helpful exercise routine.