Why Yo-Yo Dieting is Good: Why You Should be Proud of Weight Fluctuations

You've gained back the weight you worked so hard losing... again. Rejoice! Look, I recognize that being at an unhealthy weight is a bad thing, and that losing the "progress" you've made in the past is frustrating, but yo-yo dieters have a lot to be proud of. The bad news is that you're going to have to lose that weight again. The good news is that you're going to do it, and this time, when you lose it, it's gonna stay lost. Here's why it's alright to be a yo-yo:

The image of a yo-yo dieter is one of a person who goes on the same cabbage-soup diet, over and over again, losing weight, then going off the diet and gaining it back. If you're reading this article, you know that that's not the way it happens. In reality, yo-yo dieters work hard losing weight. Maybe the first time it's a cabbage-soup diet, the second time, its The Zone Diet, then Body For Life, or even the Master Cleanse. The yo-yo dieter has a lot of experience with health and nutrition, and has engaged in the equivalent of a Master's degree in weight loss in the search for a lifestyle change that matches their personality. Every diet out there will work, if you follow it to the letter. I kid you not - any program will get you there - but only a few will work for you in the long term.

It's not uncommon for folks to fluctuate in weight when first losing. For most people, they try once to get to their goal weight, fail, and give up. It's too complicated and way too hard. The truth is, most people haven't got the tenacity of the yo-yo dieter. Most people don't have the energy and ability to keep trying, to learn what they've done wrong in the past, to examine themselves that closely and identify ways to succeed in the future. A person who has the willpower and knowledge to lose 50 pounds is inspiring, and has every reason to feel proud, but the person who's lost that 50 pounds 4 times, and is still willing to get back on the horse - that's amazing.

The trick for your average dieter is to change something. You know the old saying about the definition of insanity, right? It's doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. This is the image that most people hold of a yo-yo dieter, but it's not you, and it's not me. It's important for the yo-yo dieter to change things up. Look at the variables in the diet that failed for you. Was it too difficult to stick to? Did it vary too much from the lifestyle that you want to have after the diet was over? Did you stop exercising? Look closely at what you did in the past to meet with success, and try to figure out what was your downfall. Change that one thing, and you've got a whole new approach, and one that is more likely to succeed for you, in the long-term.

Little changes aren't the only thing that can work out for yo-yos, though. Personally, I find dieting boring, but I find that working with an entirely new program can be exciting and invigorating. For yo-yos like me in the regard, here are my recommendations for a couple iron-clad programs that you might try. As they say, the program works, if you work the program:

1 - Body For Life: Bill Phillips put together this program and was an overnight success. The program focuses on lean proteins and low-glycemic carbs, spread out through six meals throughout the day. It also includes a pretty intense workout regime, as diets go, but it's tailored to your abilities, so no matter who you are, you can manage it. You'll quickly build lean muscle, and burn fat, slimming down impressively in 3 months. You also get a free day every week. The book recommends supplements and diet bars/shakes. The program absolutely does not require them, and I did it without eating a single one.

2 - ediets.com: Ediets is one of the most complete diet and exercise sites on the web, providing a program tailored to your goals, lifestyle, and desires. They offer a pretty impressive level of service, and will work with you to fine-tune into a program that you'll really enjoy. Their site is pretty inclusive, and explains everything clearly and completely, so rather than draw out my explanation, head on over and get it from the horse's mouth. The best part is, they try really hard to make the program fun, and allow you to track your progress visually - and if you want to - publicly.

Yo-yos aren't nuts, we're not weak-willed, and we don't lack follow through. We're looking for a solution that works for us, and that will either fit our lifestyle, or help us to change it forever. That's a tall order, and it takes time. Sure, it's gonna be tough - it was tough last time, too - but you did it. Yo-yo dieters are the marathoners of the weight loss world. Adjust, research, plan, and go for it. You've got it this time.