by Katarzyna Radzka

Created on: May 23, 2009   Last Updated: May 26, 2009

We're all guilty of believing that dieting works. That's after all, how all those gorgeous slim girls and muscular men, stay in the shape that they are in. Well actually, not quite. It might be a little difficult to live permanently on cabbage or apples, or cut out all types of carbohydrates. Yes, it might work wonders for a week or two, but then your personality is chaotic, your hormones are running wild and you're dreaming of binging on your favourite junk food and all your dieting goals have gone out the window.

Dieting doesn't work. It's not just a waste of time, but a waste of your sanity and health too.

Dieting involves deprivation. By depriving yourself of the food you love, you're setting yourself up for failure. Most diets say no to chocolate, cakes, ice cream, fast food, chips, cheese and wine. What a dull existence without some of these things. Life is too short to deprive ourselves. The more we tell ourselves we can't have something, the more we want it and this in effect, is the failure of most diets. It's so much better to give yourself a little treat every couple of days, then depriving yourself for days or weeks and going all out at the weekend.

Dieting leaves us moody. Many diets restrict certain food groups that provide us with important vitamins and minerals. Not all fat is bad, in fact we need a little bit of fat in our daily diet, for healthy brain function. Not the greasy kind from a hamburger but the good stuff found in olive oil, nuts and avocado. Carbohydrates are another source our bodies need. Cut out bread and you're cutting out a perfect source of fibre, which is necessary for regular bowel movement and stable weight loss.

Dieting isn't for life. If you can't imagine sticking to the eating program for the rest of your life, then it's not the right one for you. Dieting is a short term solution to a long term problem. Unfortunately, things don't work that way, no short term fix is going to solve your lengthy weight issue. If you want to lose weight, be healthy and stay fit, you need to find a diet that works for you and can be implemented on a daily basis for the rest of your life.

Unless you want a quick fix, it's best to avoid the highly popular diets of the twentieth and twenty first century. The most important thing is to listen to your body and give it the vitamins and minerals it craves. Depriving yourself is only going to lead to diet failure, so instead of trying the newest diet craze, enjoy the food you love in moderation and remember to fit in some daily exercise.

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