Every now and then, I get asked about my diet and what type of philosophy I like to give out to others. Well I’m here to say that you could do strict Paleo, Weight Watchers, South Beach, or high-protein diets. Because when it comes right down to it, it really doesn’t matter.

Yup, you heard me. The type of diet you’re on doesn’t matter if you subscribe to one of the ones above (just as long as it’s not the antiquated Grapefruit/Cookie diets). Why? Because a rising tide lifts all boats.

What are the odds that T-Pain eats his fruits and veggies?

While we could have a classic “point-counterpoint” debate on the merits of one diet obtaining 30% of their calories from carbs, versus 35% from carbs in another, doing so would really just be semantics. When it comes down to it, all of these diets are simply about one thing only: less bad, more good.

Look, everyone looks for the “magic pill” in weight loss. And that’s precisely why so many people fail at losing weight (along with a ton of other factors that I’m gracefully omitting). So, I’m for any diet that makes people eat less processed and refined stuff, while making them eat a ton of fruits, vegetables, and higher quality food. As I wrote about here, one rule that should guide the way you eat is “if man made it, don’t eat it.”

If you’re looking to start somewhere in the weight loss journey, pick a diet and be prepared to make it a life change. It probably doesn’t matter which one, as long as it doesn’t look and sound crazy (because then it most likely is). What matters is that your way of eating is both healthy AND sustainable.

And for any diet haters, stop with the dogma. Look, instead, at the context.