DIET | DETECTIVE^®

Why aren't these diets working? And is there any miracle cure out there that can help us lose weight once and for all?

There just might be, but the real secret is that it's not about what's in your mouth -- it's about what's in your head.

Think about it -- traditionally, if someone wanted to lose weight, they went in search of a new diet or food combination that would help them shed pounds. Goodbye favorite foods! Farewell, preparing one dinner for the whole family!

Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors all have a direct impact on our food choices. Losing weight is not about what you're eating when things are going according to plan -- it's about what you eat when things aren't going so smoothly. After a stressful day at the office or an upsetting conversation with a friend or relative, for many people, their first response is to head to the kitchen and pull out those comfort foods. It may even be subconscious -- you may not even realize the connection. But try logging your food intake and your feelings for about a week. You'll probably be surprised at the relationship between how many of your favorite comfort foods you eat and your emotions.

It's habits like these, or behavior patterns, that need to be changed and replaced by more health-promoting behaviors. Weight loss and nutrition experts are now recommending a stronger behavioral component to today's weight loss programs. Study after study shows that the emphasis MUST be on small behavioral changes, support and education. Exercises such as visualizing your goals and keeping a food diary, as well as practical information regarding dining out and healthy food preparation, are critical components of any weight loss program. By slowly introducing changes to a person's lifestyle (as opposed to introducing drastic, restrictive changes), he or she is less likely to feel deprived and therefore, more likely to stick with it.

For example, you might not be willing to give up your morning bagel, but you're less attached to your afternoon routine of grabbing a muffin from the breakroom while catching up on the latest gossip with your co-workers. So, how about substituting a cup of fresh fruit for the muffin, reducing your total calories by hundreds each day (not to mention all the benefits you'll gain from eating fresh fruit, like fiber, vitamins and minerals)? This is a process of learning to compromise and make conscious choices about food.

Banish the idea that dieting has to be unpleasant and unsatisfying. You don't have to go hungry. If you learn to change your habits, slowly and gradually -- you'll be happy with the results you see, and more importantly, the results that last.

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