Advanced Diets Advice & News

You are careful about your diet. You avoid junk food, practice portion control, and even exercise several times a week. But you are increasingly frustrated with not losing weight.

Well, you’re not alone. This is a very common problem. Many people become ‘yo-yo’ dieters, losing and regaining the same weight, until they simply give up in dismay. Don’t let this happen to you. When you understand the things that cause dieters to fail, you can avoid those thing, and be successful in losing weight and keeping it off.

1) While you might expect help from family or friends, they are not always supportive. There always seems to be someone you know who remains slender, no matter how much food they eat. They tempt you at work or at home with calorie-dense snacks. They don’t understand how hard it is for you. Talk to these people and try to get their help in removing the offending foods.

Even the environment seems to work against you, with junk food advertisements everywhere, fast food restaurants on every corner, huge restaurant portions, and unhealthy snack machines. You should restructure your surroundings to help, rather than hinder, your efforts. Avoid places where you are tempted. Read nutrition facts on packages to learn the correct food portion sizes. Always carry a healthy snack with you, or use chewing gum to distract yourself. And try using a special portion plate for your meals.

2) Diets don’t take into account your own body, metabolism, habits and lifestyle. They offer a single approach, with no room for individual variations. One way to overcome this is develop a more personalized approach. A dietician or nutritionist can help. To find one, look in the phone book, check the local library, or search on-line. A dietician can act as your coach or trainer, helping you stay on track. They can set up a specific, individualized diet plan.

3) You may not be aware of how many calories some common foods contain. Even foods you think are healthy; for example, fruit juices and many “low-fat” products still have a lot of calories. Most people don’t realize that a frappuccino coffee might have up to 600 calories! Keep an eye on these hidden sources of calories that may be sabotaging your diet.

4) Lack of persistence can also result in diet failure. Making good progress in your dieting efforts requires minimizing the number of times you ‘cheat’ and being persistent. Aim for slow, steady weight loss. It is much healthier to lose weight gradually. And it takes time. Don’t get discouraged and stop your diet too soon.

5) Too many people lose weight and then gain it all back again when they return to their former eating habits. Don’t let that happen to you. Healthy weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight for life requires a commitment to changing your lifestyle. You will have to adjust your attitudes on food and eating. Find a diet and meal plan you can be comfortable with. Portion control plates make it easier to both reach your goal weight and maintain it.

Success depends on finding the right diet plan for you. Doctors and nutritionists agree that there are several key elements in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. If you choose the right foods, limit calories using food portion control, increase your exercise and activity level, and don’t give up, you CAN be successful and achieve a healthy weight for life.


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