DIETS DON'T WORK!

Diets don't work! They are not realistic and cannot be adhered to on a permanent basis.

In fact, every major study shows that the vast majority of dieters gain the weight back, and sometimes more.

So if diets don't work, how are you supposed to lose weight?

1. Be patient. Diets promise rapid weight loss. But when you lose weight too quickly, you lose not only fat, but also water, muscle & other body tissue. (Yuck!) Losing muscle decreases your metabolism, making it harder to keep the weight off. To ensure safe, permanent fat loss, aim for losing 1-2 pounds per week.

2. Eat the correct number of calories. The first step is to determine your personal calorie range for weight loss. You can easily do this with our AAY! Online Nutrition Program. (If you don't have an account, let us know so we can set one up a complimentary one for you.)

If your range is, for example, 1200 - 1500 calories, it's important to stay between those two numbers. Eating too few calories can be just as detrimental as eating too many calories. Too few calories and your metabolism starts slowing down. Too many calories and you gain fat.

3. Eat a balanced diet of mostly whole foods. Fill up on vegetables & fruit. Eat lean protein and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. Eat whole grains, nuts and seeds. Limit your consumption of processed foods. To ensure that you are getting ALL the nutrients you need (including vitamins, minerals, omega 3s, fiber, etc.) use our AAY! online nutrition program.

4. Listen to your body's internal cues. If you slow down and really listen to your body, you can learn to eat the right amount of food. Don't eat just because it's there or just because other people are eating.

5. Exercise 5 days a week. Studies show that people who lose weight & keep it off exercise 5 days a week. When they start to slack off by even one day a week, they stop making progress, or even start to gain weight back. Exercise is not a temporary weight loss tool. It is a lifestyle that you must maintain throughout your life for optimum health & well-being.