Healthy Lifestyle, not Fad Diets, to be Weight Loss Reality of the Future

While the average celebrity, or 'quick fix' personality, will embrace diet schemes in the year ahead, we realists will be embracing life changes in health. Whether you want to lose 10 pounds, 100 pounds or just want to live a healthier life, today's headlines reflect the times ahead. A whole healthy lifestyle is the best way to achieve a healthier body instead of fad diets.

Having been a member of Sparkpeople.com for over a year, my friends and I have embraced the whole health lifestyle by making smarter food choices and achieving more exercise. Not only by making healthier lifestyle choices, but by surrounding ourselves with positive people who want to achieve the same goals, we are moving ahead to achieve healthier bodies.

My own brother lost around 100 pounds on Atkins Diet, only to be let down a year later by gaining the weight back. Becoming a healthier person is a frustrating, agonizing process, and the fad diets of today are quickly leaving the table to make way to a whole health lifestyle. People are sick of the let-downs that fad diets provide, and want to make a change in their bodies and lifestyles for the rest of their lives.

By letting go of the 'How to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks' magazine articles, and 'how-to' books, we open our minds to look at the reality that is as simple as choosing the right foods and getting adequate exercise. Becoming a healthier person can be a much simpler process when you let go of the books, and embrace the health. Look at what you are eating calorie by calorie and look at the minutes of exercise you are working daily. You may be surprised that instead of a 2,000-calorie diet, you are actually consuming 3000 calories. Maybe you think those 20 crunches are burning many more calories, but actually, they may not be. Realism is the key focus to completing your healthy lifestyle goals.

The next year ahead will unveil new diets for every type of person, however, the only diet you need is a healthy lifestyle makeover. Just set aside 30 minutes a day to walk, do a workout tape in front of the tv, or run in place. Whatever it takes, work those 30 important minutes into your schedule. Use a food diary and track everything you eat for the first two weeks, so you know how to make adjustments in your food intake levels. It is as simple as starting, and never stopping.

Be realistic: eat a cookie every now and then, and do not forget to take a day off from exercise to give your body rest. The trick is to indulge on occasion to keep sane, but to know that tomorrow, you must stay on track. Hook in with friends and family who will support you, and make the commitment to a whole life change in the year ahead.