Over the years, there have been no shortage of fad diets: the South Beach diet, the Mediterranean diet, the Raw Food diet, the Macrobiotic diet, Atkins, Paleo, Keto… and so on.

What typically constitutes a fad diet is one that promises quick weight loss through what is usually unhealthy and unbalanced diet. These diets target people who wanted to lose weight quickly without exercise. Some fad diets claim to make you lose fat, but it’s really water weight that you’re losing.

The truth is that there is no one-size-fit-all diet. Everyone’s body is different. What works for one person might not work for another.

There is really one rule that tends to work for most people. That’s moderation and routine. The stomach is about the size of your closed fist. Compared to that, most servings at restaurants are enormous. Eating moderately will modulate our appetite, regulate our metabolism, and balance our energy levels. Keeping a meals routine helps our body function optimally.

Of the three conventional daily meals–breakfast, lunch, and dinner–breakfast is the most important. The first meal sets the tone for the rest of the day, because it tempers our appetite. Eating protein early is a good idea, as it takes the longest to metabolize and thereby controls mid-day hunger. On the flip side, skipping breakfast means we usually overcompensate later in the day. So even if you eat late the night before, don’t skip breakfast the next morning.

So in summary, beware of fad diets and just eating moderately on a consistent timely fashion.