With hundreds of diets out there claiming to guarantee weight loss, how do you know which one to try? Maybe you try them all, one at a time, and get stuck in a yo-yo diet routine. The issue with diets is that they are only for a short period of time…21 days, 30 days, 60, etc. The diet may be effective and create some results, but does the weight loss last??

More than likely…it won’t.

Like some of you, I have tried many “diets.” Strict eating for so many weeks to drop a few pounds, but also like some of you, those pounds soon find their way back.

So what do we do? We want to be “healthy” but not be on a diet. You also may ask “what does healthy eating actually mean??” A healthy diet consists of the following…

high amounts of vegetables
fruits in moderation
foods high in protein including seafood, beans, nuts, seeds, meat, poultry, eggs
whole grains
small amounts of added sugars
more oils than solid fats
dairy products low in fat
limited amounts processed foods

These are guidelines for you to live by on a daily basis. Yes, you have heard it before, but eating this way is a lifestyle. It’s easy to get on a health kick for a few months, but what are your eating patterns like during the remaining part of the year? I am a firm believer in making small changes over a period of time for effective and lasting results. Changing everything you eat all at once can be a recipe for disaster. After week 3 you may get overwhelmed, throw in the towel, and order a pizza. I challenge you to start with one change, adjust to it, then add another. Don’t underestimate the effect these small adjustments can have on your long term health. So what is the secret to dieting?? The secret is…they do not work long-term. Diets can be great for the length of time they last, but once you get off the eating regimen, old habits tend to creep in and can cause weight gain.

Strive to eat healthy and understand your not perfect, you are human. We all make mistakes and have bad days where we may regret the choices we make. Give yourself grace, and get back on the right track at your next meal. Remember diets aren’t realistic for lasting results and find ways to incorporate healthy habits into your life on a daily basis.