Fitness and Health

For lots of people, the very word 'diet' is unappealing. All the counting of calories, obsessing with food and cutting out what you like to eat isn't really positive. Extreme diets are near impossible to sustain, so we fall into a yo-yo pattern, losing some weight initially after dramatic changes in diet, only to find it piling back on after. A healthier approach is to find the right solution to dieting.

Overcoming weight problems, becoming healthier and restoring self-esteem is not so much about what we eat, as about addressing our relationship with food. Weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight is actually more possible without dieting. It's just about reprogramming habits, eating styles and attitude.

You'll recognize this if you've ever eaten because you're bored, angry or feeling down. If you've ever eaten when you're not hungry. If you've ever rewarded yourself with food. If you've started diets but found it impossible to stick to them, and then felt a huge sense of failure.

Most diets do not lead to long-term weight loss. Whilst there may be the initial euphoria of losing some pounds, often very quickly, the vast majority of regimes eventually fail and people may gain more than their original weight. If this sounds all too familiar and depressing, don't despair - there is an answer.

Creating your healthier body depends very much on mental attitude. So begin to carve out a healthier life through your positive attitude. Knowing, deep down, that this time you'll succeed. Because things are going to be fun and easy, without limits and without forbidden foods. You'll actually enjoy eating more, and finding new foods. You can support this new resolve with CDs for motivation and/or hypnotherapy designed for promoting weight loss.

Then, it's time to change some small habits in your lifestyle. Exercise is something that puts many people off just as much as the word 'diet'. But it's not about suddenly starting running five miles a day. Why not just get off the subway or bus a stop early, and walk a little further? Walk or cycle to the corner store rather than drive. Take the kids to the pool and put in a couple of laps. Walk the dog an extra mile. Take the stairs, not the elevator. You'll soon find yourself with a bit more energy, a spring in your step and carving out a new figure.

When sitting down to eat, try listening to your own body. If you're not feeling hungry, then don't eat. Take your meals small, slow and often, and stop when you're feeling full. Eat at least three times a day, though many find six small meals even better. Try different, new fruits or vegetables and make it fun. Don't ban anything - not fats nor sweets - just make them a real treat every now and again, not thrice-daily occurrences.

You might find yourself eating bigger quantities than before, but still shedding 1-2 pounds each week, which is what doctors recommend for long term weight loss. A great solution to dieting is to do gentle exercises, these help speed up the metabolism, so you'll burn through calories quicker. Stick with natural foods not ready meals, rediscovering how nice home-cooked meals with fresh ingredients are .