When it comes to dieting, many people set themselves up for failure before they even begin the process. They are afraid to go on their diet and plan their mishaps along the way before starting the process. Sad to but true, many people will be planning their first Rocky Road accident while eating their last bowl of Rocky Road before the big event.
I don't know why people do this to themselves, but it's something I see in dieters everywhere. The very popular belief is that one should binge on the most loved and enjoyed foods before starting the dieting process, as these things should be eliminated to shed those unwanted pounds. If you are honest with yourself, nothing can be further from the truth. Moderation is just a concept that many of us shy away from embracing.
For any diet to be successful, you need to change the way you think about food and your enjoyment of food. Food is not the enemy. And it's something that not enough people understand. Even 'delicious' meals are not the enemy. The enemy is your personal inability to properly divide the foods you eat. The problem is that most of us eat the wrong foods far more often than we eat the right ones. Here are the problems.
By missing out on five servings of vegetables and three servings of fruits, our bodies need the nutrients we should be consuming. Our body knows something is missing, and we feel hungry or deprived. If we were consuming the proper balance of fruits and vegetables each day, we would find that we were much less likely to feel hungry and less likely to crave foods that were not as healthy. This means we are more likely to enjoy them in moderation than they should be enjoyed.
Portion control is another problem we have. We live in a society of "upselling". Super-sized fries and empty calories by the gallon of your favorite cola are introduced with almost every fast food meal that can be bought. You must learn to say no to these things and avoid situations in which you may be tempted to participate in these large orders.
To be successful while dieting, you need to adopt a healthy process rather than depriving yourself of anything. Don't think of your weight loss plan as something negative, but as a positive force to make changes in your life for the better. When you have negative thoughts, do not include them in your diet. When you feel deprived, remind yourself that you are depriving your bones of that extra weight. Remind yourself that you're depriving your wardrobe of heavy fabrics designed to hide bulges. Remind yourself that you are depriving your body of years of bulges and bringing back the body of your youth.
Don't get so caught up in the process of dieting that you forget to enjoy some good thing's life has to offer. Watching your weight and counting your calories doesn't mean you can never go over your allotment. However, the goal is to find balance. If you learn to portion out your meals correctly, indulge in moderation, and incorporate enjoyable calorie-burning activities into your routine, you can be amazed at the results.
Dieting for weight loss and health is deprivation only if you allow it to happen. If you can't control yourself when it comes to indulging, then avoid indulging. However, if you can learn to incorporate those small treats into your routine and burn off those extra calories, you should find yourself a happier and more successful 'diet' than before.
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