If you’ve visited your local bookstore in search of dieting advice, you may have been a little confused by the plethora of diet books lining the shelves.
If there’s a secret to weight loss success, it’s knowing what works – and what doesn’t – for you. That’s where those diet books can come in handy. Borrow their best diet secrets and make them work for you.
Secret No. 1: Make healthy eating a part of your life.
If a weight-loss plan calls for drastic changes in your diet or behavior, it’s much easier to slide back into your old ways. Instead, look for ways to make your current eating habits healthier.
The source: Make the Connection: 10 Steps to a Better Body – And a Better Life, by Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey (Hyperion, 1999)
Secret No. 2: Keep it in balance.
Eat two carefully regimented meals each day – then choose anything you want for your third meal, as long as it’s a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat. Constructing a healthy meal plan around the foods you really like to eat will help you avoid cravings and stay on track.
The source: The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet, by Rachael and Richard Helner (Signet, 1993)
Secret No. 3: Eat frequently – but wisely.
Never skip meals. Deprivation ruins your body’s sugar balance, triggering junk food cravings. Eat regular meals and snacks, focusing on high-fiber, low-fat foods.
The source: The South Beach Diet, by Arthur Agaston (Rodale, 2003)
Secret No. 4: Police your portions.
Eating the proper balance of proteins, carbs and fats at each meal boosts nutrition and energy. Mentally divide your plate into sections to visualize the right servings of each.
The source: The Zone, by Barry Sears (Regan Books, 1995)
Secret No. 5: Don’t measure success by the scale.
Don’t get hung up on achieving a certain weight. Instead, focus on how your body is changing: your pants are fitting better, your knees are hurting less, etc.
The source: The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution, by Phil McGraw, PhD (Free Press, 2003)
