The truth is, I am not a nutritionist. The other truth is, I cannot afford a nutritionist’s co-pay. Solution? A new favorite website of course! Health Castle is a fantastic way to get nutritional information and diet planning advice. The site is written and sponsored by REAL M.D.’s to guide readers to healthy living and nutrition. The coolest thing about the site is that it isn’t just for weight-loss! They have fabulous tips and information on nutrition for pregnant women, people with diabetes, cancer victims and even tips for a gout diet.

However I will obviously be using the weight loss diet section for my help. I snagged this little gem off the website and I thought I’d share it with you all:

Top 4 Reasons Diets Fail

1. Something’s Missing
   Diets eliminating an entire food group (such as carbohydrates) and not using the full spectrum of My Pyramid are difficult to follow, and will likely lead to a slip. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Can I eat like this forever?” A successful diet should allow choices from all food groups in moderation, and be something that you can follow for the long term.

   The low calorie thing I am doing isn’t bad in terms of taste, it sucks in terms of time. Like seriously, how do you eat well when you have no time to cook?! However I think I am not doing to bad; I treat myself to a piece of candy or a sweet every now and them to remind myself I deserve little indulgence.
   

2. Going Low
   If you eat too few calories and are constantly hungry, you risk an eventual willpower blowout, leading to a major diet setback. Successful diets are adequate enough in calories so you don’t experience prolonged deep hunger, but low enough to allow for a moderate weight loss of 0.5-1 lb per week. Looking beyond weight loss, it’s also important to understand that consuming less than 1,200 calories per day for an extended period of time is never a good idea because it isn’t enough to give your body the nutrients it needs to function best.

   Uh YIKES! Keep in mind especially with my diet…

3. Diet. Period.
   If you’ve embarked on a weight loss regime, but have no plans to incorporate exercise, your weight loss will most likely hit a frustrating plateau. Adding exercise can keep you motivated to stick to your diet, even on the weeks when the scale won’t budge, since exercise can help you whittle off the inches. Regular exercise also increases the rate at which your body burns calories, helping you to see results faster than diet alone. Multiple research studies have concluded that the most successful diets include a combination of diet and exercise.

Dude, I need to start going to the gyms!

1. Friend or Foe?
   A 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that those who surround themselves with overweight or obese family and friends are more likely to be overweight or obese themselves. The study found that a possible explanation for the conclusions may be that your sense of “normal” weight and eating behavior can be influenced by those around you. For example, if everyone close to you is overweight or obese, your opinion may be that being overweight or obese is normal, thus you may not be motivated to lose weight. For the best success, surround yourself with family and friends sensitive to your goal, and make a personal commitment to follow through on your plans. If you have overweight family or friends, why not make a group resolution to work together for better health?

Ah, this one, this one I have down to a science. I am so so, so very lucky to have the most supportive, loving and wonderful people around me helping me along my way. Really guys, you’re the best. I love you all so much, even if I don’t know you that well, for taking time to care about me.

Until next time!