Though too many dieters try to take the quick fix route for their weight loss problems, unfortunately, the reality is that there really are no simple solutions. No one gains all of their excess weight overnight and no one can lose that weight overnight. Sadly, Americans spend billions of dollars each year on diet books, gimmicks and other products to try to lose weight ($6 billion per year, according to the Federal Trade Commission). It seems that every month there is a new book or magazine that proclaims to have the latest and greatest "miracle diet" that promises a dramatic weight loss.

Just like the old “caveat emptor” – always beware of "fad" diets and take the time to learn how to recognize a fad diet when you encounter one. For example, a fad diet will not include the variety of foods necessary for good health, or, it won’t encourage or teach good eating habits, or it will make claims that you can "trick" your body’s metabolism into burning excess calories or energy. Further any diet that makes dramatic claims for fast and easy weight loss should be avoided at all costs.

Health professionals concur that the most sensible approach to weight loss is a balanced diet, i.e., eating a wide variety of foods (in moderation), combined with a sensible exercise plan combining both aerobic and anaerobic activities. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Heart Association, the American Dietetic Association and the American Medical Association all recommend this combined approach.

Your body weight is effectively determined by the number of calories you consume as compared to the number of calories your body uses as energy. Simply put, if you consume more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. Similarly, you will lose weight by eating less, by being more active or, preferably, by doing both.

In order to maintain a permanent weight loss profile, one also needs to learn sound eating habits. While fad diets may take the weight off (often in an unhealthy manner), they don't teach you how to keep it off. Remember, successful dieting also involves learning a way to live, NOT just a way to diet. To keep the lost weight off, one must continuously stay motivated. Successful weight control depends upon YOU personally and not upon any particular product or program.

Back to Low Calorie Tips & Info