"I can't... I'm on a diet!"

Whenever we hear someone say this, it's usually accompanied by glum looks and a gesture of despair. It's normal to think of dieting as some kind of punishment, isn't it? It has to be hard, it has to be a grind... otherwise you can't be taking it seriously! It's ingrained in our culture that 'going on a diet' is something undesirable, even nasty.

Yes, there's so much media hysteria about the latest variation on the (unhealthy?) dieting theme: zone diet, low-fat, lactose free, cholesterol lowering... All these and many more. Most people aren't naturally attracted to the latest dieting fads, but in despair they'll try anything. Especially when they promise to be good for us!

But can we rely on them?

At first you could be elated by a rapid loss of weight. But sorry to say... all evidence suggests that most people quickly give up these diets. Not only that, they revert to their old eating patterns - and then some! This shouldn't surprise us. How long can you expect to avoid practically everything you like and keep your spirits up?

Instant Gratification

Part of the problem is that 'We want it all, we want it now'. We've become so used to instant results and instant gratification. Not surprising, then, that we apply the same principles to our dieting. Are we disgusted by our flab? Are our health restrictions getting us down? Right! Let's deal with them. Now! Deep down we know there could be health risks, but the ads are so appealing, they promise so much - and we're even prepared to pay for the instant, but unhealthy, dieting plans we secretly know won't work.

The drive to reduce weight rapidly can be so strong in some dieters that they will choose stomach bypass procedures. They know these operations were designed for the extremely overweight, but they nevertheless choose to ignore their own doctor's advice and seek private treatment.

Counteracting Unhealthy Dieting

Deep down every dieter knows what has to be done, but they are often reluctant to face the facts. So let's - gently! - spell them out. Two things are required to gain a healthy, well-shaped body. One is to eat an appropriate amount of foods from the various food groups in order to meet our body's needs... The other is to subject the body to a reasonable amount of physical exercise.

Think about it. This is really great news! You won't need to avoid your favorite foods. You won't need to go hungry. You can eat what you like in moderation, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that your health and weight are going to be right.

So toss those unhealthy dieting plans - and all the misery that goes with them - out the window. Look forward to an improved figure, an improved self-image, more balance in your emotional life. That dessert or cookie is no longer forbidden, provided you keep to your daily limits and are reasonably active. Who says dietng has to be unhealthy? It doesn't even have to be unpleasant?

Before starting any diet plan, ensure that you steer clear of unhealthy dieting by checking out Frank McGinty's free weight loss report. And there are more first-class resources for you at his web page, including a Weight Loss Formula article. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.