by Erica Michaelson

Created on: July 28, 2010

The battle of the bulge is most likely the longest running battles in the history of mankind. Forever, and a day, people are constantly seeking out new ways to reduce their waistlines, through the quickest and easiest, most painless way. Here are some observations as to why there are no effective shortcuts to weight loss.

One popular shortcut to weight loss is a fad diet. The grapefruit diet, cabbage diet, cottage cheese diet, the three day diet, and even the ear stapling diet. These fad diets do will not work in the long run. I think f-a-d, actually stands for failure and doom.

Your body needs many nutrients and minerals to perform optimally. How can anyone eat only peanut butter for a week and really get what they need? If it sounds too good to be true, then it is! And while you will most likely lose weight initially on these fad diets, it will actually do more harm than good. Unsustainable diets deprive and starve the body, and as a result the body will eventually react by storing more fat when you decide to eat it again, and trust me, you will.

The reason these diets are important is because they offer seemingly quick results, they are no brain-ers to follow, so you somehow convince yourself that since you really love grapefruit anyway, that you could eat it for a month, let alone a week if it promises 30 lbs. in 30 days.

Well then in that case, what not substitute candy or a bag of potato chips twice a day? Not that I am recommending this yet, just consider that if this is the plan then almost anything you eat on any given day as long as it is controlled by portion. Then single food menu option fad is nothing more than a low calorie portion control regime, that contains some nutritional components.

Forget the fads and shortcuts. They offer little flexibility, are often nutritionally deficient, very unhealthy. Instead, try portion control and eat the food you love. Make changes to recipes to make them contain less fat and sugar, and add more vegetables and fruit. Your body will be rewarded consistently with an army of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, that will promote a healthy bodyweight.

Regular exercise is also a key element to weight loss, and a healthy body that craves good food. Monotony will kill any good program. Incorporate fun activities into your life to keep the body active. Swimming, walking, sports, and even housecleaning can help break the repetitiveness. Hey you have to do housework anyway right?

There are no shortcuts to long term weight loss! With a regular exercise program that gets the body moving, along with tasty, portion controlled, and nutritional food, you will achieve long lasting weight loss and gain the power to maintain a healthy body and body weight, for life.

For more information about attaining a more healthful regime:

American heart assoc.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

Healthier U.S.

http://www.healthierus.gov/

Learn more about this author, Erica Michaelson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.