Many people who begin a diet and are totally unprepared and they do not know it. A diet will require a change in one’s eating and exercise habits and so preparation is necessary. It is very difficult for the majority of people to find a plan, get started right away and be successful. This is because there are things that each individual must do prior to starting a diet that they often do not.  We will discuss those in this post.

1. Decide Why:  Every person needs to decide why they want or need to go on a diet. Are they severely overweight?  Do they have health problems?  Do the want to look good for an upcoming date, job interview, or social event? Once a person decides why they want to lose weight, they will be able to better focus on actually doing it.  This may help keep them motivated when it gets tempting to quit.

2.  Keep a Food Journal:  Every person who is going on a diet should keep a food journal for a few days prior to beginning a diet plan. This is because often times we assume that we are eating far less than what we are.  Seeing on paper exactly what’s going into our mouths each day will give us some perspective and perhaps will answer the question why we are overweight in the first place or have been unable to lose weight. Often times, we will see that we consume many more calories than our bodies need.

3.  Set Realistic Goals:  Consider your body type and shape. Understand that it’s impossible for everyone to look like Hollywood starlets. Everyone’s genetics are different. Therefore, the goal should be to find a healthy weight and size for you and then do your best to pursue that.

4.  Know Yourself: Understand your temperament and your tastes. This will help you decide on a diet plan that works for you. If you know that it’s very difficult for you to go without eating your favorite foods, you may want to find a diet that has a strong exercise component and more well-rounded food choices.  This will allow you to perhaps have a few of your favorite foods even if they’re not the healthiest and still be able to lose weight.

5. Agree Ahead of Time To Not Get Down on Yourself:  One of the biggest diet sabotagers is our attitude.  If we cheat we often beat ourselves up about it for far too long.  Typically, this only encourages us to eat foods that are bad for us.  Therefore, determine ahead of time that no matter what happens, you will continue to love and forgive yourself and will do your best to restart the dieting efforts even if you have a few setbacks.

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