Simple Dieting Tips

With the New Year well underway, those who have implemented resolutions are hard at it.  I observed this firsthand the other day, when some came along and offered me a few pieces of chocolate cake.  They explained that one of their resolutions for the year was to lose weight, and dieting was hard enough.  She was trying to get rid of these temptations – did I want one?  I passed.

Dieting Tips

I’m not actually a fan of “dieting.”  When I started my weight loss story, I resolved to keep it simple, and target progressively increasing, small lifestyle changes, rather than grand resolutions.  After all, I had managed to fall off the wagon a few times already with the “grand gestures” approach.  Why not keep it simple?

Turns out I may have unwittingly given myself a better shot.

Researchers studying complexity and goal success have discovered that the success rate of someone who is dieting is strongly influenced by both the complexity of the diet, and their environment.  What does this mean?  Well – if you’re following a diet that’s very regimented (i.e. – counting calories, weighing portions, or having to solve an equation before taking a bite), you’re more likely to just – quit.  After all, who wants to live like that every single day?

Another important factor to consider is your environment.  Try to reduce your exposure to the worst temptations.  If you keep a dozen 2-liters of soda in your house, you’re much more likely to drink them.  Empty calories.  The same thing holds true for snacks, group luncheons, and sweets.  The second you walk through the doors of an “all you can eat” buffet, the potential rises dramatically that you’re going to blow your diet.

Writing this, I’m reminded of an exchange at a birthday part, when I was just starting down the weight loss path.  The person cutting the cake asked if I wanted some.  I hemmed and hawed for a second, before asking “for a piece from the middle.”  My thought process being that I would have a small piece (2″x2″), and avoid the calories from the icing on the sides.  Was it overboard?  I don’t know – seemed pretty simple in my mind.  I caught hell from everyone about that one…

Dieting is hard.  That’s why I tend to prefer the idea of lifestyle changes.  According to one source, the average woman spends about 10 years of her life dieting.  I don’t have a good estimate for men, but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that number was close.  After all – everyone wants to look good.

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