Getting Started

Deciding that you are going to start a diet may be easy, however, maintaining and sticking to that diet is a completely different story. To begin, some may turn to webMD online, a Shape magazine or advertisements on television from shows like The Today Show. Turning to places like these can be troublesome because there are so many different ideas of how to diet. The key is to choose one that is best for you, even if it is not the quickest or easiest way to lose weight.
If making a decision gets overwhelming, here are some steps you can follow to settle on a diet:

Figure out why you are dieting
-to lose weight
-to become healthier
-for athletic reason
Set a goal, start off small, and make it realistic
-lose 10 pounds in five weeks
-stop snacking in between meals, or no eating after 7 pm.
-pick a race or contest to compete in
Look over your schedule
-plan a diet that will fit in without being stressful or burdensome
Choice a diet that meets your needs
-keep in mind that all diets need some form of cutting back on food and exercising at least three times a week.
Make a schedule and stick to this routine

Once you have a diet plan here are some tips that can help you follow through with your diet:

Get a buddy
-Pick a person who can either follow the diet with you or who can constantly ask how you are doing.
-Chose a person whom you are very comfortable talking to like a spouse, other family member, or friend.
-Make sure this person will keep up with their end and not let you down.
-Chose someone that you do not want to let down.
-Keep checking in with each other throughout the process.
Reward yourself.
-If you go to a party or the movies or something like that, reward yourself with a treat that will fulfill a craving you have.
-Reward yourself at least once a week if you have a successful week following your diet.
-Why? because you need something to look forward to.
Make healthy food fun.
-If you like to usually snack on something crunchy like chips, try eating an apple or celery.
-If you still need a salty chip to fill your craving, grab baked or whole grain chips, they are not that bad.
-If you usually crave chocolate and eat candy, try a chocolate chip granola bar instead.
-When you diet you should not cut out everything you like, otherwise you are more likely to cheat and the diet will not be easy to follow.
Make exercising fun.
-Go for a jog with a friend. If you talk while you are jogging it is a lot harder but makes the time go by much faster.
-If you chose to go alone, grab a radio or television to focus your thoughts on to make the time go by faster.

The biggest thing you have to remember, however, is this diet has to be realistic and work for you. Do not say you are going on a diet and only last two weeks. Creating a routine that is easy to stick to that consists of diet and exercise. Make dieting fun. Do not cut out everything you like, and reward yourself after a good week’s diet. Exercising can be a great way to relieve stress so it should not be stressful to go exercise. Dieting can be very rewarding if you stick to your plan. The process, however, can not be temporary, make a schedule and stick to it. It will feel good in the end.