No matter how successful a particular diet plan is, most people do gain back the weight. In addition, within a few years people not only regain their original weight, they add three to four extra pounds. You can lose weight on most “diets”. The trick is not only to lose weight but to keep it off.

Fad Diets

Fad diets are extremely popular because everyone is looking for a quick easy way to achieve weight control. A fad diet is one that promotes an approach to eating that depends on one food (ex: cabbage), a particular combination of foods, or the elimination of a dependence on one major food group. These types of diets are not based on well-founded nutritional practices. Fad dieting ultimately leads to failure because any weight loss is usually not permanent.

The main problem with fad diets is that they don’t promote a change in daily eating habits and lifestyle. It’s a good thing that most people cant keep a fad diet. Most lack the necessary nutritional balance and may cause harm if followed for long periods of time.

There is no magic combination of foods that cause weight loss

A weight loss plan should NOT:

• emphasize a particular food
• guarantee a weight loss of specific pounds
• eliminate one major food group
• sat it is “fast”,”easy”,or “quick”
• be linked to a food product that is only available through the diet program

Diet aids (Pulls,Candy,Gum,etc)

The goal of diet aids are to curb the appetite, numb the taste buds, or provide a feeling of fullness. Just because these aids are sold over the counter doesn’t meant they are completely safe. The drawback of all diet aids is that they don’t contribute to permanent weight loss.

Why doesn’t it work?

Diet pills can cause high blood pressure, dehydration, and/or poor nutrient absorption. Over time there is a need for higher doses, ultimately leading to dependency. Again, the only way to really keep off wait is by diet and exercise.

Fasting and extreme calorie restriction

Some people mistakenly seek self starvation or fasting as a means of quick weight loss. Fasting tens to confuse the body and starts burning up the wrong tissue. Weight lost by fasting and other ddrastic measures such as extremely low calorie diets is mainly lean body muscle, not fat.

Another problem from severe calorie cutback is that the body decreases the rate at which calories are burned and actually stores fat more efficiently. Fasting is not an effective or safe approach to weight loss.

Now is the time time to establish a weight loss plan and follow it. Don’t make excuses-make the time!