Diets...(I'm screaming on the inside)

I figured people might want to know my take on this popular topic. I have tried A LOT of diets. I have been both a success and a failure at diets. I think the main reason(s) diets don't work is that they're neither individualized nor long-term. You have to figure out for yourself what you can give up and what you can't; what you can do and not do--for the long haul. Some tips: 1) Don't let anyone else define for you what you want to look like. If you're a healthy size 14 and love it, good for you. That goes double if you're a size 3 and constantly hear, "Girl, you need to eat." If you decide what you want to look like based on tv or magazines, good luck. Think about it: If it was your job to look good all the time, of course you would find the time to eat right and exercise, and you'd probably have plenty of money to hire people to help you do it, too. Decide for yourself what you want to change and what you want to keep, and have specific reasons: "I want to fit into my blue dress," is much better than "I want to get in shape." 2) Choose Healthy vs. Unhealthy. I know, I know, no-brainer. But you'd be surprised how many people think an all coffee, all grapefruit, all WHATEVER was their ticket to a healthy physique. Ditto for not eating or making yourself throw up. If you find yourself doing these things EVER, you may have a severe psychological condition called an eating disorder. Get help immediately, as if left untreated they can and do lead to death. Visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ if you think you or someone you know may have an eating disorder. That said, even if you don't have an eating disorder, the quick fix is ever-so-tempting. Don't do it! Eating a balanced diet low in fat and sugar, high in lean protein, fruits/veggies, and whole grains is the best way to achieve your goals, in my humble opinion. Note: I am not a nutritionist and this advice is not intended as such. These are simply basic guidelines from a layperson's persepective. In fact, it may be beneficial for you to visit a nutritionist, especially if you have special dietary needs. 3) Choose exercise you can stand to do...and do it! If you hate running, guess what, the quickest way to sabotage your weight loss goals is by forcing yourself to run. While it's true that certain kinds of exercise burn more calories than others, the important thing with exercise is to stick with it. This you are more likely to do if you enjoy what you're doing. Love a morning walk? Go for it! Like to play tag outside? Why not? You can start slow, but the important thing is to get moving! Please make sure you consult your doctor and/or personal trainer before starting an exercise program. 4) Variety is the spice of life. People get bored easily. I'm just throwing it out there. Let's face it folks, we do. In part because our lives are so fast-paced, in part because we have 20 doodads and gadgets in our faces all day long, and mostly because we're just people. Our brains aren't meant to do the same thing all the time; they're way too complex. So if you think you're going to get away with feeding your brain salad every day without a revolt, you've got another think coming. Try something new! Your local health food store has lots of interesting healthy goodies. Rice milk, anyone? Dried cherries? Blue corn tortilla chips with organic salsa? Bonus: most health food store fare is lacking preservatives and hormones, both dangerous things for your weight as well as overall health. Make sure you vary your exercise routine, too. I cannot stress this enough. If you let yourself slide for a day or two because you're bored, it becomes excruciatingly hard to get back on the wagon. Vary it every day, if you must. Bonus: varying what you require your body to do on a daily basis is harder and thus burns more calories. 5) The Gottas. You all know what I'm talking about here. "I GOTTA have chocolate NOW or I will die!" If you feel that strongly about it, go ahead and have it. My tips: You can't have the gottas every day. Come on now. The term "indulgence" sort of loses its meaning if you do it all the time. Also, eat first before you indulge. You'll be less likely to order a muffin the size of Antarctica on a full stomach. Finally, keep the serving as small as possible to quench the craving. A certain popular chocolatier named after a city in Pennsylvania has these little sticks of chocolate for 60 calories. You could eat like three and still be way under the calorie limit of most desserts. Not that I recommend that, but if you "gotta..." Until next time ;)