Going on a new diet
usually ranks about as high as going to the dentist.
You know you need to
do it. But you procrastinate because your past experiences have been so
unpleasant. Even torturous.
But there’s one big
difference between going to a dentist and going on a diet. The results
from the dentist
usually last.
So why don’t the
results of a diet usually last?
Because you have to
eat several times every day. So if the only way
to keep the weight off is a diet that seems as torturous
as a trip to the dentist, is it any surprise most of us fail repeatedly?
A Diet Doesn't Have to Be Torture
I believe you’ll have a greater chance
for long-term success if you
enjoy your weight loss program.
So here are my top 10 tips for choosing a successful diet plan:
1. You Have to Be
Able to Live With Your Diet And Have a Life With It.
This is absolutely the most important tip.
If your diet seems like torture, if the food gives you no pleasure, if
you’re making yourself and everyone around you miserable, then you’ll
have trouble losing all the weight you want and keeping it off.
You have to make long-term changes in your eating habits to succeed
with weight loss. So whatever you do to lose weight initially should be
similar to how you keep it off.
That means you have to eat foods you enjoy. You have to be able to
socialize at food-based events. You have to be able to enjoy life.
2. You Should Lose
No More Than 2 Pounds a Week.
Sometimes, you may lose a little more at the beginning. But
week-to-week, 2 pounds is enough. Anything more is unhealthy.
3. Your Diet
Shouldn’t Be Extreme in Any Way.
Unless your doctor advises you otherwise, it’s unhealthy to eliminate
entire food groups. A balanced diet provides vitamins and minerals to
keep you strong.
So skip the diets with low-carb, all grapefruit, or whatever the latest
fad is. Extreme diets usually don’t work. At least not for very long.
4. You Should Have
Minimal or No Hunger.
If you’re losing only 1 or 2 pounds a week, you shouldn’t experience
tremendous hunger. Not if you plan your meals and snacks correctly.
5. You Should Have
Lots of Food Choices.
There’s no reason to restrict the kinds of food you eat week to week.
I’ve never understood plans that say in Week 1, you can only eat these
10 foods. In Week 2, you can add another 5 foods. But if you gain
weight, go back to Week 1.
If your diet doesn’t work with every food from Day One, it’s probably
not going to work. Period.
6. You Should Be
Able to Enjoy the Holidays.
If your diet doesn’t build in holiday eating, you’re going to do it
anyway. You’ll just ruin your diet.
That’s why so many people start diets in January — after the holidays.
Trouble is, the holidays always roll around later in the year. So you
need to have a way to handle them.
7. Your Diet Has to
Allow for Moments of Weakness.
Perfect diets are for perfect people. But there are no perfect people.
So a perfect diet is destined to fail.
8. You Shouldn’t
Have to Exercise with the Diet To Lose Weight.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t exercise. We all know exercise is healthy
and it makes you feel good.
But the benefits of exercise should be a bonus. Not a necessary part of
a diet plan.
After all, what if you become unable to exercise for some reason?
Or suppose you stop losing weight on your diet plan and you haven’t
reached a reasonable target weight. If the only way to start losing
again is to exercise more, then the diet’s not working.
9. You Should Get
All the Information You Need When You Start the Diet.
If someone sells you a diet and you have to go back week after week to
get more information, they’re just trying to make money off of you.
There’s no reason why Week 1 should be substantially different from
Week 9.
And when you pay your money, you should know what the entire diet
system is about. How else can you evaluate if it’s going to work for
you?
10. You Should
Control the Diet.
The diet shouldn’t control you. By this, I mean that your diet should
meet your needs and wants.
Strict rules just increase your chance of failure.
For example, if you like to snack in the evening, but your diet
eliminates eating after 7PM, how are you most likely to fail on your
diet?
That’s right. By snacking in the evening.
But everyone has different needs and wants. So you have to be able to
customize a diet to meet yours. Then you’re more likely to succeed.
And of course,
before starting any weight loss program, you should see your doctor to
make sure your diet is right for you.
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