by Timmy Duncan

Created on: October 15, 2010   Last Updated: October 16, 2010

There are lots of methods out there for achieving weight loss. In fact, the weight loss industry is one of the only industries out there that was not drastically effected by the downturn in the economy. Why? Because people are always looking for ways to lose weight. The problem is that most of the weight loss programs out there are geared towards the immediate gratification crowd. The ones who want to lose weight yesterday. There are some fad diets out there that will help you take the pounds off quickly, but you’ll gain it right back once you revert back to old behavior. And you will revert back to old behavior, because diets that give you that instant gratification are not sustainable. In order to lose weight long term and keep it off, you need to adopt new and healthy habits and replace your old ones.

Doctors have been preaching for ages that the only reliable method for weight loss is a sensible diet and exercise program. But we reject this, because as a society, we are constantly looking for a short cut. We want the easy way out, but the fact is that it doesn’t exist. Not where long term and lasting weight loss is concerned. You might take a few pounds off in time to fit into a certain outfit or look good for an event, but if your method of weight loss is not sustainable, you will gain all that weight back and then some.

The only way to achieve lasting weight loss is to take a good hard look at your habits. Keep a food journal detailing everything you eat. Document your physical activity, your daily caloric intake and your corresponding weight. Look for habits and patterns. Once you do this, it will be much clearer where the changes need to be. You’ll notice that your weight is lower when you eat healthier and exercise regularly. Bingo. You hit the jackpot.

Work with your doctor to come up with a sensible lower calorie diet that works for you and doesn’t make you feel deprived. The more you deprive yourself, the less sustainable the diet will be. You are looking for a diet you can live with for the rest of your life. Of course, you can make adjustments as needed, but your new diet should be something you can live with. It’s about changing habits and substituting good choices for bad ones. There is a period of adjustment and the weight will come off much slower, but it will stay off this way. Yo-yo dieting keeps the weight loss industry booming, but long term weight loss is much simpler than anyone wants you to think.

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