When I was a kid, I was the skinniest string bean in my class. My friends used to jokingly tell me that I needed to "go home and eat a gallon of ice cream" in order to fatten myself up. This was all well and good…until my metabolism caught up with me. All of a sudden, I wasn't the skinny little girl that I once was, and I didn't know how to handle it. It was time for the dreaded D-word: Diet.

But which way should I turn? It seems as though every time you turn on a television, you see a celebrity singing the praises of a "guaranteed" and "easy" diet program, if you're willing to shell out the money. Maybe the diet plans would be worth it, but I have learned that it's most important to find a plan that will put you on a healthy track without making you feel terrible physically or emotionally.

When getting ready to start a diet, you really need to consider whether or not a diet is necessary. In a Nielsen poll from January of 2015, 37% of those surveyed claim that one of their New Year's Resolutions was to "Stay fit and healthy," and 32% said that they strived to "Lose weight." However, a Brown University study states that over 74% of college females who are at a healthy weight constantly think about their weight, and the same goes for 46% of college males at a healthy weight. There are many reasons why this could be, including the media and comments from friends of family, but feeling pressure over one's weight could be subliminally entered into one's brain at a very early age. The Brown University study gives the example of a Barbie doll and states, "If Barbie were life-sized, she'd be at 76% of a healthy body weight — a weight consistent with acute hospitalization." With role models like this that start in childhood, it's no wonder that both men and women often unhappy with their body image.

However, there are many people who really would benefit from losing weight and adopting a healthier lifestyle. At this point, where should they turn? This is the time where you really need to tap into your personality and find how which plan is best for you.

Are you someone who could really use some help while starting towards your weight-loss goal? You're not alone, as many people need some hand-holding during the diet process. You could benefit from a personal coach who will give you support and hand you recipes for exactly what you should be eating. There are no shortage of plans such as this, but they often come with a hefty price tag. Luckily, there are now many free or low-price smartphone apps that will give guidance and help throughout the weight-loss process.

Maybe you're feeling confident in your ability to figure out the best way to lose weight. You've done the research to figure out your BMI (Body-Mass Index) and have taken your age and family health history into consideration. There are independent types who want to take on the weight-loss process completely on their own. Luckily for you, the internet has a plethora of resources that will give you all of the information that you might need.

Or maybe you want to lose weight, but you really just don't have a lot of free time on your hands? You would like to lose weight in as easy a way as possible, since you're always on the go and don't have a lot of time to do research, make meal plans or meet with a nutritionist. This is when you may turn to a diet where you drink pre-made diet shakes for two out of your three meals. Just remember to make that third meal a healthy one.

WebMD breaks it down for you simply and says that the best way to lose weight is to "eat less and exercise more." While this is the basis of losing weight, it's also incredibly important to think about who you are in the process, so that your weight loss journey can align with your personality and lifestyle and be as successful as possible.