The Dieting Mindset -- Keeping Focused on Your Goals

Millions of people all over the world are starting on new diets every single day. This is good because it reflects our society's general desire to be fit and healthy. However, only a few of these individuals will have the dieting mindset that allows them to actually finish what they have started and achieve the weight loss they had been reaching for. The rest will simply quit their diet program a few weeks or even days after starting it. One of the common misconceptions that people have of diet programs is that diet programs prohibit you from eating your favorite foods like that sumptuous slice of chocolate cake. Because of this belief, many dieters stuff themselves with these sinful delicacies the day before starting on their new diet. If this is the dieting mindset you are putting yourself into, you will never be able to succeed regardless of what diet program you follow.

For any diet program to succeed, one must have a healthy and wholesome perception of food and eating. Totally depriving yourself of your favorite foods while on a diet will do nothing to help you lose weight. In fact, this dieting mindset will only cause you to feel unhappy, which is a very common reason why people simply quit their diets. Eating these foods occasionally and in strictly regulated portions, is not only allowed but in fact encouraged to keep dieters feeling good about themselves while on the diet.

Many people find it hard to stick to a diet program because they are constantly feeling hungry. A great way to avoid this problem is to snack on fresh fruits and vegetables in between meals. These healthy foods will give you loads of vitamins and minerals and keep you nourished without causing you to gain weight. These are excellent alternatives to the typical calorie-laden snacks and desserts that we have all gotten used to.

Watching your portions will also help you trim down to a healthier body weight. For some reason, up-sizing food and beverage servings have become an American way of life. Because of this practice, the single servings offered in most restaurants and fast foods these days are actually large enough to feed two people. The next time the waiter asks you if you want to super-size anything, just say no, unless you are planning to share the meal with your dining companion.

One of the most important elements of a successful diet is having the right attitude and way of thinking. Before you even start dieting, you have to realize that you are doing this for your own good, to improve your health and perhaps your appearance as well. Never start a diet with the expectation that everything will go according to plan, because nothing ever does.

Be prepared for obstacles and temptations along the way, and have a plan on how to handle these unexpected events. Generally, having a positive dieting mindset is the best approach that you can have when it comes to dieting and weight loss.

Another common problem of dieting is that people tend to focus too much on the numbers. Every time they eat something, they have to count the calories. At the end of the day, they get on the scales to see how much they have lost, and beat themselves up if they didn't meet the daily target. An excellent way to avoid these stresses and pressures is to simply relax and just exert your best effort.

So many dieters find themselves dwelling on their failures and kicking themselves in the rear for not accomplishing more. If this is the dieting mindset you have, you won't even have the chance to succeed. In order to have certain success, the dieting mindset you want to have is one that is optimistic and focuses on the good things that you have achieved or experienced. If you can do this, you will be able to lose weight and have a healthier body in no time at all.

Author: Robin Darch, copyright 2009