FoxyBody Articles

Before The Fads-Diets That Work
Christie Dombrowski, AFPA

Do you find yourself lost in the marketing madness of weight loss products? It seems like everywhere you look there is a new diet discovery claiming their way is the best. It's hard not to get mixed up along the way. More results with less effort sounds like a great idea, but that's not usually the end result. I don't want to burst your bubble, but it's time to see through the hype.

The only way to get lasting change is to follow the tried and true principles dating back as early as 360 B.C. Forget about banning your favorite treat and follow the words of Plato who said "a moderate diet is a healthy diet."

There is room within your calorie allotment each day to have a small splurge. Putting restrictions on food only makes the desire stronger and eventually you are going to cave. I can't imagine ever having the willpower to forgo trips to Cold Stone for the rest of my life. If you can't do it for the long haul, don't make it part of your diet plan. Once you re-incorporate the banned food into your diet you will be back to where you started.

Centuries later in 1860 Ralph Waldo Emerson came from a similar school of thought. He said "'tis a superstition to insist on a special diet" and we should all heed this advice. There is no one miracle food that will make or break your diet. Any diet that has you banning foods should signal a red flag. Banning carbohydrates is absolutely a no-no considering it is your primary source of fuel, especially during exercise. Keep complex carbs as a staple in your diet, dress it up with a serving of lean protein and a hefty serving of fruits and veggies and you are on the right track to healthy balanced eating.

Get rid of that all or nothing attitude. It's never time to throw in the towel. You have a life to live so start living it. Do you want to continue losing 10 pounds, gaining 15, losing 5 and gaining another 10? Listen to Moliere who told us in the 17th century that "one should eat to live � not live to eat." Most social interactions are planned around food reinforcing the idea that we should live to eat, but you have the power to change that. Meet your friends for a hike or bike ride rather than high fat meals.

Wipe the slate clean and forget everything that sounds too good to be true. Take the taboos away from carbohydrates, forget about banning your favorite treats and get active for your next social gathering. The truth is that there is no miraculous way to get to the end of the road. You have to commit to the journey and forget about the shortcuts along the way. Change your mind set to that of the tortoise, not the hare. After all we all know who wins the race.