Dieting And New Year's Resolutions

[kathleen stone]

Now that we have entered into a New Year many people are setting new
year resolutions. Eighty percent of New Year's resolutions usually
revolve around starting a diet or eating better. So why is it that so
many people can't seem to stick to the resolution they make at the
beginning of the year. As a personal professional coach I have had the
opportunity to work with many individuals in many different
situations. One of the most common reasons I have noticed why
individuals abandon their goals is because they haven't done their
homework. What I mean by homework is identifying the action steps they
need to take in order to be successful. They start out with great
intentions, but when it comes to executing they don't have a very good
plan of action; or the plan of action they have chosen isn't the right
one for them. Most times people are just looking for a quick fix.
People by nature tend to be impatient. They want to get results
quickly and if they have to wait very long, they lose interest and end
up giving up all together.
Another reason many people have difficulty sticking to a diet is
either it's too restricting, it's too expensive or it doesn't address
changing bad eating habits. They tend not to teach individuals how to
eat healthier. Diet programs which restrict caloric intake and don't
give any support in the way of appetite suppression usually fail in
the first 30 days. Most times, individuals do need a little help to
keep the hunger pains in check and programs that provide an appetite
suppressant seem to last longer than others that don't. People in
general are not motivated to anything long term if they feel they have
to starve themselves all day in order to lose weight. They would
sooner give up then stick it out. Studies have proven that drastic
shifts in caloric intake will cause the body to go into starvation
mode and it will start storing fat to protect itself. Studies have
also proven excessive exercise can increase appetite. This can become
a problem for those on restricted calorie diets because they tend to
experience hunger pains in between meals causing them to either cheat
or gorge themselves at meal time.
An effective weight loss solution is a program that provides a healthy
balanced frequent eating plan, basic exercise, and an herbal
supplement which can help suppress appetite and increase energy
levels. It has been proven that when an individual eats more often
throughout the day the body starts to reprogram its behavior and after
a period of time stops storing fat reserves. However, this does not
usually happen overnight, it will take a period of time anywhere from
30 - 60 days for the body to feel confident enough to stop storing fat
and to start burning reserves for energy. Another key factor of an
effective program is addressing changing bad eating habits. Most
individuals didn't become over weight over night. It took some time
and probably a few bad habits to get them in the situation they're in
today.
When selecting an effective weight loss program you should always
consider the following:
Select a weight loss program that:
? Teaches you more healthier eating habits
? Provides a well balanced meal plan (food items you can find at the
grocery store)
? Provides a meal plan which has you eating more often throughout your
day
? Provides an all natural supplement to overcome initial cravings and
increases energy levels (such as Green Tea Extract)
? Includes a daily healthy exercise program (such as walking or riding
a bike 15 - 30 minutes a day)
? Offers alternative options for meal planning, such as recipes or
suggestions when eating out.
? Provides online support to answer any questions regarding the
program or healthier eating in general.
The key to success is finding a weight loss program you can live with.
It also needs to include a long term maintenance plan, one you can
live with for the rest of your life. If you can find a program which
contains all the items indicated above you will have a fighting chance
on being successful. The other and most important part of the equation
is "YOU". It is up to you to stay committed to yourself and your goal.
If you have the right tools to get the job done then the only reasons
why you wouldn't achieve your goals are you.