Ten Commandments Of Weight Loss

     If you want to lose weight but just can't, here's a few weight loss 'commandments' that could help.

1) Thou shalt not starve yourself. Most people think that in order to lose weight, they have to eat as little as possible. Not true - and you're actually hurting your weight loss goals when you do this! Your body will assume you're starving, and actually lower your metabolism to help you survive! So DON'T starve yourself.

2) Thou shalt eat balanced, healthy meals. Sure, you can lose a lot of weight with certain fad diets - but when you go back to regular eating habits, the weight comes roaring back. Strive for moderation in all things - healthy moderation. That means protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Lean white meat, fish, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables - these are the stuff that a great diet is built from.

3) Thou shalt eat six small meals instead of three large ones. This helps you keep your digestive system going all day, which burns more calories. And it keeps the munchies away, so you're less likely to cheat. A half cup of low fat cottage cheese, a few crackers, some dark green salad greens, and an apple are an excellent mid-afternoon meal. (And no, a candy bar does not qualify.)

4) Thou shalt exercise. But that doesn't mean you have to go to a gym or sweat yourself to death. Actually, a brisk stroll around the neighborhood every day will help you burn a lot of calories - and you'll probably be a lot more likely to do that than go to the gym every day.

5) Thou shalt be accountable. Keep an online diaries, get on a forum and post, or get a diet buddy to keep you honest and on track. But make sure your diet buddy is serious. A bad influence as a diet buddy means broken diets!

6) Thou shalt drink water. Even if they are just 1 calorie, diet sodas are a hodgepodge of chemicals. Your body needs clean water to actually break down fat, so you'll need to drink more. For water with a little zing, pour a splash of 100% cranberry juice into 8 ounces of water.

7) Thou shalt cut down on salt. You need salt to live, but that amount is actually VERY small in comparison to what the average American normally consumes. Excess salt not only causes high blood pressure, it also makes your body to retain water. And you don't want bloating to interfere with your amazing weight losses, do you?

8) Thou shalt not drink alcohol. A glass of wine or a beer once or twice a week is allowable, but remember: alcohol is a LOT of calories in liquid form. And don't tell yourself that drinking vodka is permissible because it doesn't have any carbs: any form of alcohol partially mimics the effects of estrogen, one of which is to build up fat (women's curves are there for a reason, folks).

9) Thou shalt be nice to yourself. Trying to motivate yourself by getting angry or disgusted with yourself can lead to binge eating to make yourself feel better, which leads to feeling more disgusted, which leads to more comfort eating. Vicious cycles are BAD. Love yourself and resolve to be positive. If you eat something you shouldn't, just promise to do better and MEAN it, and go back to eating healthy.

10) Thou shalt practice moderation. If you've been living on Twinkies and Pepsi for years, you're not going to make the transition to whole wheat bread and fresh vegetables overnight. That's just setting yourself up for failure. GRADUALLY work your way into the diet - out of six small meals, eat one very healthy meal every day for a week. Then eat two very healthy meals a day, and work your way up. The ultimate goal is not just to lose weight, but to adopt a healthier lifestyle that will help you stay thin once you reach your goal.

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