The best weight loss meal plan is one that suits your lifestyle. There are lots of diet meal plans available, whether on the internet, in ebooks or even in traditional books but how do you know if they'll work for you? Let's face it, the best weight loss meal plan is the one that helps YOU to lose weight.

You need to start by looking at how you live your life and how much spare time you have to devote to designing and cooking your meals. If you're a really busy person, you won't want a plan which involves lots of cooking and counting points, calories or carbohydrates. The best weight loss meal plan for you will be one which either involves pre-packed calorie-counted meals or easy to follow menus for simple meals which you can throw together easily.

You also need to look at your normal eating pattern. If you snack frequently throughout the day, there's no point choosing a plan which means that you have to stick to three meals a day with nothing in between. The best weight loss meal plan for you is one which involves say, five small meals a day. Don't worry if you go out to work, you can just pre-pack the meals you need while you're working and put them in a cool box to keep fresh.

If you're at home all day working or keeping house and caring for kids then the best weight loss meal plan for you will be a rigid one that leaves no room for raiding the fridge when you're bored with sitting at your computer. For you, a plan that leaves room for snacks would be good, particularly one which tells you precisely what to eat and when.

If you like to have an alcoholic drink of an evening, choose a plan which allows for that. You probably won't get doughnuts and wine in the same diet but unfortunately losing weight does have to involve some sacrifices.

Above all, make sure that the diet you choose involves the best weight loss meal plan for YOU. Don't pay any attention to well-meaning friends who tell you that you must try this or that, do it for you