I Cant Lose Weight - Is There A Diet That Works?

     This is the same question I used to ask myself, and until four years ago, my answer was NO. However, a few years back that all changed. For more years than I care to mention, I use to try every option under the sun to lose weight, and the end result was always the same. I would attempt a new diet to try and achieve my weight loss goal (which varied from 15 to 50 pounds) and then slowly over the next couple of years gain back the weight I lost plus a little extra. I was on the weight loss roller coaster for most of my adult life.

Then, four years ago my wife approached me and told me that her sister found a diet that worked for her. My wife admitted she wanted to drop a few pounds and asked if I wanted to give it a try. My initial response was no, I've already tried everything possible why should this be different. After a few days I thought it over and decided what have I got to lose? Well, I tried it, four years later I'm 60 pounds lighter.

For me it was the South Beach diet. I lost the weight and kept it off. Finally I was able to get off the roller coaster. Now, I'm not suggesting that this will work for everyone. I know for a fact it won't. About a year after I started losing weight a friend of ours asked what diet plan I used since she had tried everything and was struggling with losing weight and keeping it off. She picked up a copy of the South Beach diet from the library and began her program. After three months she had only lost less then ten pounds and was growing frustrated. She decided to try the Weight Watcher's program.

That was her magic bullet; the weight came off and stayed off for her.

In fact it was so successful that after about a year she had to put a couple of pounds back on.

This just proves that the way our bodies metabolize and process the foods we consume differs from one person to the next. There is no magic pill or secret formula, each one of us has to find the right combination. One thing I found out was that it's not only finding the right diet, but following four simple rules for success.

I believe now, that the reason for years of weight loss failures wasn't so much the fact that I couldn't find a diet I like (or a diet that like me) but this time I followed these four steps.

1. Commitment - If you're not willing to commit to losing weight you, won't lose weight. Far too often I've heard someone say that they are going on a diet, but easily fall off the wagon because, I had a wedding to go to, our friends had us over for a party, or one of a thousand other flimsy excuses. If you go on a diet, commit too stay on the diet - No Excuses.

2. Be Realistic - Set goals that are attainable. A diet is hard work, and depending on the amount of weight you want to lose, can take considerable time. I've heard it before, "I've been on this diet for three weeks and only lost eight pounds. I should have lost at least 25 by now". To successfully lose weight you need to feel a sense of accomplishment, not failure. You will be more likely to succeed with "I've been on this diet for only three weeks and already lost eight pounds. I only thought I would have lost only a couple by now."

3. It's a lifestyle change - Going on a diet and achieving your goals is only half the battle. If you go back to your old eating habits, it's pretty much a given that you'll not only gain the weight back, but gain a couple of extra pounds as an unwanted bonus. This is why it's so important to pick a diet you can live with. In order to not only lose the weight, but to keep it off, you will need to follow the diet to some degree for the rest of your life.

4. Exercise - Although exercise is not mandatory to lose weight, it will sure help. Losing weight is nothing more than basic math; you must burn more calories than you consume. There are many other points that factor into weight loss like eating the proper portions and combinations of food, but the bottom line is you need to burn calories to lose weight.

Copyright (c) 2012 Fitness and Health 4 You

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