Six Simple Steps to Diet Eating Success

There is so much information on the web about dieting and diets and how to loose anything from 4 to 400 pounds in three seconds that I had no idea where to start looking for some easy steps to get me on the road to a healthier weight. That's why I started doing some research to find out what steps would help me to Diet Eating success.

These are some of the keys I've found to diet eating success:

1. Decide why you are dieting

I know it sounds daft, but sometimes I went on diet just because everyone else was. Have you ever gone on diet after a Christmas or some big occasion just because it was a fashion or fad? So it's important first to really decide - do I actually NEED to diet? Lets face it, everyone needs to lose a pound or two ... but do you really have to go on a stringent diet or will cutting down for a week or two sort it out?

The answer to this question also determined whether I am successful or not. If I didn't really need to or wasn't 100% sure that I needed to then I shouldn't because the level of commitment needed on a diet is MAJOR - for me anyway.

2. Choose a goal and a reward.

I am sure some people would love to loose every pound that they're made of - or at least they act that way, but for me, I only lose weight successfully when I have a specific goal in mind. The goal doesn't have to be a number - and in fact I found it best to use clothing rather than a number. So pick that pair of jeans you've had in your closet for months and set the goal as that - that's what's worked best for me, anyhow. Then choose a reward. The goal and the reward can be the same thing - I've used a brand new outfit, that I went out and bought to use as both the goal and the reward and let me tell you, when you get into that outfit, it's the best feeling in the world.

3. Choose a diet.

This step is important because I think in general most of the diets out there work. I've lost weight on Atkins, Weighless, Weight Watchers, to name a few. And if you do your research properly, you'll find one that is close to your current lifestyle and that's probably the best one to choose. If you're a big meat eater try Atkins, if you're a nut nut then go for the low fat diets like the Zone diet, and if you like getting technical and learning about your foods try the South Beach diet or one of those.

I personally love my steak, eggs and chops, so although Weight Watchers worked for me I found Atkins easier in my daily life.

The point is that choosing a diet that is as close to your lifestyle as possible will give you the most chance to succeed.

4. Work out a plan

If you're like me, I just rush into a diet without much planning. This is one of the biggest reasons for my failure most of the time. When I plan ... I get a date to start, get my list of things I can eat, go shopping and stock the fridge with the "good foods" and get rid of the baddies, then when I start the diet, I am ready and I tend to follow through.

I have the will power of a squirrel so if I don't do those things, the first time I want a chocolate I go into the cupboard and have one, no matter how many times I told myself I wouldn't ... I'd be strong. Its easier for to be weak and wish I had the chocolate but not able to eat it because it isn't in the house, rather than try to be strong and avoid the baddies in the cupboard.

5. Work out a weekly menu

I find this also helps me diet effectively. This means I don't really have to think about what food I'm going to eat tonight and thus what I would like .... Which leads me down the road to ruin. If my menu is planned, my shopping done for at least two weeks, then I can avoid all temptation and get on with the job of dieting.

6. Reward

I often forget to give myself that reward at the end .... But I know if this blog was written by a psychologist they'd probably tell you not to forget the reward.

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