Saturday, February 28, 2009

How to Stick To Your Diet For the Long Term

By Ashley King

Are you looking for a way to lose weight that you won't give up on? Many people find that their willpower gives out and they quit before they reach their weight loss goals. Try these tips for finding a healthy weight loss program that you can live with for life.

It doesn't matter if you're a first time dieter or a veteran of numerous weight loss programs. It's entirely possible to stick to a plan long enough to lose the weight you need to. The ones who lose weight long-term have learned that nothing is off limits, but moderation is the key.

The first tip is to find a diet plan that's not too strict. You've seen lots of these around. Some have special limits on carbs, protein, or anything that's the color white. On others you're supposed to start and stop over and over until the weight comes off. This can send you on extreme highs and lows emotionally and physically as your body is forced to adjust.

The only thing you'll lose is your healthy eating habits if you choose to fast and binge, even if it's good food you're choosing. As well, your body will become confused from the conflicting messages it's receiving. One day you're loading up on massive amounts of lean protein, vegetables and complex carbohydrates. The next you're surviving on nothing but hot water with honey and red pepper mixed in.

Rather, look for a plan that teaches you to eat healthfully every day for the rest of your life. It's perfectly alright to have the occasional treat or enjoy a glass of wine. Therefore you won't be all over the place with your eating habits. You'll be on a balanced course that's safe for your body and easy on your emotions.

When you're considering various diet plans, think about it as a lifetime way of eating before you make a decision. Could you exist without ever eating another morsel of sugar again in this lifetime? Can you imagine never having a slice of bread again?

There are diets that promise that you'll lose your old cravings and you'll be able to stay with it for life. But if you slip up, you will quickly gain back the weight, leading to discouragement and causing you to quit.

No diet plan is completely comfortable when you're used to being able to eat with freedom. But there are lots of programs that help you eat sensibly without shunning any of the food groups. Don't follow a fad. Instead, make up your mind to choose a diet that fits your life. - 16004

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