Summary:
When starting a weight loss program it is important to have realistic goals and expectations. This article gives tips on what a dieter should and shouldn’t do in order to stick to their diet and achieve their weight loss goals.

Details or Sample:
Starting a Diet? Consider These Important Tips First
By Deanna Lynn Sletten

Dieting can be difficult and many times we set ourselves up to fail from the very beginning. Excessive exercise and extremely low calorie intake may sound like a good idea but can be harmful to your body. And in most cases, people won’t continue if their diet regime is too strict. Before you begin your weight loss journey, consider these tips.

Avoid Hard-Core Diets – You may want to lose ten pounds a week on the latest fad diet but the truth is losing that much weight and restricting your diet to one food or too few calories isn’t healthy. Many people end up quitting these impossible diets after only a few days. If they are successful in losing the weight, too often they gain it back when they begin to eat normal again. Forget about the fad diets and decided to change your eating habits instead to healthier foods.

Diet Realistically for Your Body Type – Maybe your friend can lose several pounds quickly but not all people are alike. Metabolism, activity level and your current weight are all factors in how quickly or slowly you lose weight. Your goal should be to lose weight at a healthy rate for your body type, not to compete with your friend.

Don’t Exercise Excessively - So many times people will start a strict exercise regime in order to drop the pounds but if you aren’t already used to a lot of exercise you shouldn’t start out this way. Consider your current activity level before beginning an exercise regime and limit your workouts to every other day instead of everyday. Your body needs 24 hours after a strenuous workout for muscles to heal and repair. Give your body this healing time and build up your workouts slowly. You are more likely to continue exercising if it isn’t taking up all of your free time.

Realistically Restrict Calories – Starving yourself to lose weight is not only unhealthy but unproductive. The minute you restrict calories excessively your body goes into starvation mode and holds onto its fat reserves. The result is you lose muscle weight, not fat. Eating a healthy, low calorie diet will actually accelerate your weight loss much more than a starvation diet.

Don’t Skip Meals, Add Meals – Skipping meals works the same way as restricting calories – your body works against you instead of with you. Instead, try eating 5 to 7 small meals and snacks each day. This way you are eating smaller portions throughout the day and keeping your energy level up as well. It is a proven fact that people who eat more often instead of the traditional three meals a day lose weight and maintain their weight loss more effectively.

Stay Off the Scale – While it is tempting to continually weigh yourself to see how much you are losing, resist the urge. Body weight fluctuates and it can be discouraging if you see one day you’ve lost 1 pound and then you gain it back the next. Losing weight is a process and it can be a few days before you see any big results. If you must weigh yourself, do so only once a week. Otherwise, hide the scale so you won’t be tempted.

Deal with Your Emotions Instead of Eating Them – For many people food can be a way to deal with their emotions of frustration, sadness, anger or boredom. In order to diet successfully you need to target why you overeat and deal with the real reasons in order to stop your eating behaviors. If you can’t do this alone, find someone who can help.

Speaking of Help, Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help – Not everyone has strong self-control and that is nothing to be ashamed of. If you need help sticking to your diet, ask for it. Ask a friend, try a diet group or ask a relative to be the person who will keep you motivated. Find an exercise buddy to keep you moving too. Working with a partner will help you both stay on track with your diet goals.

Cheat Sometimes –

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