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Posts Tagged ‘portion plates’

You are careful about your diet. You skip the sweet treats, use portion control, and exercise more. But you find it difficult or impossible to lose the excess weight.

Well, you’re not alone. This is a very common problem. Many dieters try, over and over again, to lose weight, but eventually become so discouraged that they simply give up. Don’t let this happen to you. By understanding some of the common causes of diet failures, you can successfully lose weight, and keep it off.

1) Dieters are often discouraged by a lack of support from family or friends. There always seems to be someone you know who remains slender, no matter how much food they eat. People eat junk food in front of you, at work and at home. They don’t understand your struggle. If you talk to them, they may be willing to help by removing those tempting snack.

Your environment works against your diet success. It’s hard to resist fast food and coffee shops, huge restaurant portions, unhealthy snacks and all of the advertisements. As much as possible, you must take charge of your environment. Avoid places where you are tempted. The nutrition labels are important - read them before you eat, to learn the correct food portion sizes. Always carry a healthy snack (an apple or raisins, a few nuts, etc. And try using one of the new portion plates for your meals.

2) Most diets have rigid rules and requirements, and are hard to adapt to your lifestyle, habits and body’s specific needs. It’s a ‘one-size-fits-all’ method, applied to everyone. You can improve your chance of success by using a program personalized specifically for you. A doctor or dietician can help. You can find one locally, or through the Internet. A dietician can act as your coach or trainer, helping you stay on track. They can set up a specific, individualized diet plan.

3) There are hidden calories in many everyday foods. Be sure to check labels, because even foods that appear healthy can contain a lot of calories, for example fruit juices and low fat products. Most people don’t realize that a frappuccino coffee might have up to 600 calories! Look for the hidden sources of calories that make it hard to succeed in your diet.

4) You must be persistent to achieve diet success. If you want to make progress in your diet, limit your ‘cheating’ and try not to become discouraged when you hit a temporary plateau. Don’t look for quick weight loss. It is much healthier to lose weight gradually. And it takes time. Don’t get discouraged and stop your diet too soon.

5) Too many people lose weight and then gain it all back again when they return to their former eating habits. Don’t let that happen to you. Being successful at losing weight and keeping it off requires that you change your lifestyle and attitude. You will have to adjust your attitudes on food and eating. Find a diet and meal plan you can be comfortable with. A portion control plate can not only help you loose weight, but can be used to help keep the weight off.

It is easier to succeed if you find the right diet plan, since everyone’s needs are different. Doctors and nutritionists agree that there are several key elements in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. You CAN be successful, if you pick healthy foods, use portion control to limit consumption, exercise regularly and never give up.