Diet, Diet , Who's Got a Diet?

We know the drill. We buy the book, the special food and pop the miracle pill. We clean out the refrigerator and the cupboards and just so we don't cheat we will take the candy out of the hands of baby's. When you diet the whole house diets.

If there has been a crash diet out there I've tried it. We do lose on crash diets, I have lost about 200 lbs over the years and then I gained it back, and they brought friends. I know that being over weight is hard and we want to see results ASAP, so we slash everything and practically tape our mouths closed. It's not worth it and it won't work long term. I came to a point where I had to stop.

The reality is I love good food. I want to eat what I want and not make my Family hide the good stuff. The reality is a diet not based in my lifestyle is not something I could do for rest of my life. I had to make food not be my enemy. I had to just sit down and look at the facts as to how and why I wanted to lose weight then come up with a plan that worked for who I am.

Here are the facts; losing just 10% of our current weight will cut our risk developing of a huge list of potential diseases. We will have more energy, be sick less and sleep better. Having more energy and sleep where my two big ones.

But in order to lose weight you have to put in less energy (food) then you put out for the day, which can be done by eating less and/or exercising more. Another fact here for you, it takes 3,500 calories to make 1 pound of fat. In order to lose that, you have to burn 3,500 calories.

When you first start any weight loss program the first few weeks can make you giddy at how fast you are losing. Sorry, not so fast, it's mostly water and the goal is real fat loss ultimately. I know it still feels good though.

If you want to lose you need to take in less calories but how much less? If it is too low and too quick a few things will happen. You'll feel a headache or light headed and shaky. You feel deprived and without exercise you will be left with a sagging mess. Try this to get a basic** idea of how many calories you need in order to lose 1 pound of fat a week. I'll be brave and use my weight as an example.