Medications can sometimes be helpful for dieters, but they are generally reserved for people who have failed with other diets and for those who are extremely obese. The newest fad diet may not be the key to your long term success, either. The American Dietetic Association advises that restrictive diets may lead to a sense of deprivation and doom your weight-loss attempt. Certain healthy eating tips may help. For more advice about dieting, see your physician.
Eat Healthy
Let go of the idea that weight loss requires a rigid, restrictive eating plan. The American Dietetic Association suggests that your diet focus on the US Department of Agriculture's Food Pyramid that's recommended for everyone, whether they are normal weight or need to lose some pounds. Increase your fruit and vegetable intake; enjoy healthy proteins like lean meat, chicken, fish and beans; eat whole grains; and stay away from refined foods, added sugar and fats. Moderate portions, coupled with exercise, will put you on the road to healthy weight loss.
Increase Your Activity
Increased activity is an important part of any diet plan. Extra weight results from an imbalance between calories that are consumed and calories that are expended. It is theoretically possible to balance this equation by reducing your calorie intake only and keeping your activity level the same, but your weight loss will take that much longer. You'd also be missing out on the many health benefits that exercise provides. Increasing your activity does not necessarily mean joining a gym, if that's not what you enjoy. Briskly walking your dog, dancing, and weeding your garden are all good ways to painlessly burn calories.
Calorie Shaving
Look for opportunities to shave off calories in every meal. Try lemon juice or soy sauce instead of salad dressing, remove the skin from chicken before eating it, and drink sparkling water with a dash of fruit juice instead of downing fattening soft drinks. Learn to savor food slowly and enjoy each bite. Remember that cleaning your plate actually does nothing to solve world hunger. When the meal is done, feel free to leave a few bites uneaten, and donate money to a charity instead.
Keep Healthy Treats On Hand
Don't rely on willpower alone to get you through a long day at work. Keep healthy treats like pre-cut crunchy carrot and celery sticks and lean cubes of meat on hand. Store them in your office refrigerator if you can, or bring them to work in a thermos bag. When the three o'clock blahs strike, reach for them instead of heading to the snack machine.
Don't Eat if You're Not Hungry
If you feel hungry, stop to notice your body sensations. Is your craving for a snack due to a rumbling in your stomach, or are you hurting, angry, lonely or tired? The first letters of those words are a clue. If you're truly hungry, have a healthy snack, but if you are feeling tired or emotional, HALT. Make sure to pamper yourself in ways that aren't oriented to food when you're dieting, since it can be a stressful time. Take a hot bath, walk and talk with a friend, or curl up with a good book instead of eating a fattening snack that you'll later regret.
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