Atkins Flu Again?

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I'm Starting Again

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Thinking About Another Diet? Think Again!

For those of you who have made multiple attempts at weight loss, following the latest diet craze is hard to resist. After all, even though other diets have failed, you may think the latest new diet might finally be "the one that works". Remember The Cookie Diet, The Grapefruit Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet or The HCG diet? One diet even recommended eating cotton balls before meals! These crazy ideas can be hazardous to your health. Do you know anyone who went on a crazy diet, lost weight and kept it off?

Over the years I have met so many people looking for the elusive diet plan that's going to work for them. Out of desperation they will try just about anything. Well, here's something you ought to know: Diets are setup to fail! It's not the person who fails at dieting, it's the diet that is a total failure. Most of these plans are high on promises, but low on sensibility or long-term sustainability.

If you are checking out the latest, greatest diet, here's a checklist of things to ask before you start yet another plan:

* Does it promise a quick, easy solution or fast weight loss?

* Is it less than 1,200 calories a day?

* Does it have too many rules about what you can and cannot eat?

* Does it eliminate entire food groups?

* Does it have a rigid plan that does not include your food preferences?

* Does it neglect guidelines for how to make healthy lifestyle changes?

* Does it rely on testimonials to show how effective it is?

* Does it focus on the sale of a product, such as special food or exercise equipment, as the sole way to achieve success?

If you came up with an answer of yes for one or more of these questions, you have just found another fad (or very restrictive) diet that's going to fail you again. Today there are so many more diet books, diet plans, and diet supplements to lure people into a false hope for quick and easy weight loss.

As unappealing and unexciting as this may sound, the truth of the matter is that there are no quick or easy ways to lose weight. It takes effort, it takes patience, and most of all it involves making healthy lifestyle changes that are achieved over a period of time! If you want lasting results consider working one-on-one with a professional like a Registered Dietitian.

© 2013 Gretchen Scalpi. All rights reserved. You are free to reprint/republish this article as long as the article and byline are kept intact and all links are made live.

Gretchen Scalpi is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Certified Wellcoach®. Instead of spending money on crazy diet plans purchase the book Gretchen created for you The Quick Start Guide To Healthy Eating". It is available in paperback or e-book versions. The companion presentation "Virtual Grocery Store Tour" is available at http://www.nutritionxpert.com/a-virtual-grocery-store-tour. Visit her site to read her free articles, blog and recipes!

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Are You Here Again?

Here we are, it's January, a whole new year. How exciting! Or is it? Are you one of the millions of people who make resolutions around your health? And are you one of those millions who year after year make the same resolutions? It's exciting and satisfying when you reach your goals and downright depressing when you don't. There is a better way. And it's even easier than you might think. Your year can be different: you can reach your weight loss goals!

I want to share with you a step-by-step plan to implement into your life. The beauty of this strategy is that it works for everything-not just your health.

First, change your wording. Use the word 'goals' instead of 'resolutions'. 'Resolution' to me immediately invokes thoughts of failure. Goals = aim, end, purpose, and aspiration. These words sound a whole lot better than resolution, don't they? So the word 'goal' should automatically put you in a better frame of mind and not make everything seem so daunting. Also, stop saying "I have to" or "I should" and change it to something more uplifting like "I choose." I choose to lose 10 pounds this year.
Second, state your goal and then put an end time on it. This makes your goal definitive and gives you 'finish line'. You will know exactly the timeline in which you have to accomplish it. Get out your calendar and put your start and end dates in it as well as milestones along the way. I will lose 10 pounds by March 31.
Third, determine what you will do to reach your end result. When it comes to weight loss, there are many places to start and two really good ones are watching what you eat and exercising. In order to lose 10 pounds, I will figure out how many calories I currently eat and then determine what healthy calories and foods I need to eat. I will find an exercise that I enjoy and know I will do.
Fourth, make a plan. Take what you learned and determined in step three and create a plan for the next several months. Remember that it will take time to reach your goal, whatever it is, so you need to road map to follow. I will eat 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables during the week and I will go to exercise class 1-2 times per week.
Fifth, find a support system. Enlist a buddy, family member or coach that you trust and ask them to hold you accountable. Share with them your goals and steps you are planning to take to move you to your end result. You might think this is unnecessary but it's actually quite important! It's too easy to fall back on old habits and procrastinate if you don't have someone checking in with you to make sure you've done your homework. Jane, I choose to lose 10 pounds by March 31st and I need your help to make sure that I eat 3-5 servings of fruit and veggies each week and also exercise 1-2 times per week. Will you check in with me periodically to make sure I'm sticking to my plan?
Sixth, be flexible with your plan and with yourself. As you work on your plan know that obstacles will show up. There will be times when you will eat something that you think you shouldn't or you won't make it to your exercise class. This does not mean you have fallen off the wagon; you merely hit a bump in the road. It is how you deal with the bumps that count. I wish I didn't eat that piece of cake but I did. It doesn't mean that I failed; it only means that I am human. Tomorrow I choose to do better.

These steps will help you get on track and stay on track for you to reach your weight loss goals. Remember to set small, attainable goals and keep the timeframe in the short-term because when you have all the time in the world, it takes all the time in the world to complete a goal. A shorter timeframe keeps you honest, on target and constantly seeing results.

Reaching your weight loss goals takes thought and planning. It takes motivation, focus and determination. It also takes a personal awareness and a knowing why you want that end result. Do you want to lose weight to improve your health or maybe get off medications? Do you want to fit into your clothes better? Do you want to feel good about yourself? All are valid. What are your reasons? What is holding you back? How can you reach your weight loss goals this year?

Kim is a Certified Professional Coach and Fitness Instructor. She helps busy women take the mystery out of diet and exercise and teaches them fun and effective ways to lose weight, eat better, and look and feel attractive in their bodies. Kim's clients have the energy to play with their kids, manage their household and business, control their lives, stop feeling guilty about themselves, and find their true happiness.

If you haven't read Kim's story, please visit her website http://www.kimravida.com/ so you can 'meet' her and get to know her better. Then, drop Kim a line at kim@kimravida.com as she is eager to get to know you, too.

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