Diet vs. Healthy Lifestyle

First let’s admit that Diets ALWAYS fail!?! Ok now that we got that off our chest we can move forward. The reason why they always fail is because when we deprive our bodies off food we crave and desire we set ourselves up for failure. The key is to live a healthy life style. Eating healthy and well balanced meals 85% of the time and leaving the other 15% for the desired food is the key. If we can just commit to eating well balanced meals and smaller portion Monday – Saturday then that leaves us Sunday to eat that brownie that has been calling our name, right!?!

I am the first to admit I have done some crazy diets over the years, Atkins, starvation, counting carbs, counting calories, juice diet, cabbage soup diet, you name it I have probably done it. What I was missing is that when I did these diets I was telling myself I CAN’T have chips and salas (my fav) or a slice of cake. So guess what when I told myself NO I was a like a child I was going to crave and want that food until I got it. Rather then living a healthy day to day lifestyle.

Now I eat healthy well balanced meals and work-out 4-6 times a week and you know what if I am going to happy hour I am going to have chips and salsa. Then tomorrow I will take it meal by meal and day by day eating healthy. If I am craving chocolate I will allow myself 5-10 M&M’s and get right back in the saddle and finish my race. The best part is this has allowed me to make healthier choices for my family also. I have reached my desired weight and I have kept it there for almost 5 years.

So the next time you tell yourself its time to get is shape, don’t try some crazy diet. Healthy options and exercise is the ONLY way to lose weight and KEEP it off.