Weight Control

Weight Control
Managing your Weight Loss

Do you want to be in control of your body weight? Then don't follow a diet. Instead, take the lead! Eating right to look better, to feel better, and to live better is not a passive act. The mark of a good diet plan is one that takes you beyond the mentality of "following a diet". A good plan takes you through the steps that will help you lead yourself to your goal. Yet these important steps are ones most people never take!

The first step is the one less taken
The reason most people never take the first action step is that it's missing in most diets! That first step is:

Evaluate what you're doing now
This is the single most important step you can take to get things off to a good start. Sure, we all know that we don't always "eat right" or that we simply "eat too much". But it takes more than common sense to make changes that lead to permanent weight control (otherwise we would all be at our perfect weight!) And I'm not talking about simply keeping a record of what you're eating. A thorough evaluation of your diet habits, how much, how often, and what types of foods you eat is essential - it's the step that starts you off on the right path towards positive and permanent change. Taking the time up-front to evaluate your current diet habits can keep you from reaching a "diet dead-end," so take the time to do this!

Evaluation is an ongoing process, and it's a skill a good leader must have to reach any goal. It starts you off on the right path and helps keep you on track as you apply new habits. Consistently evaluating your situations and setting a new course of action (or adjusting the old one) will get you where you want to go.

At Personal Dietitian, we use a professionally developed diet survey that gets to the heart of what you're eating now. It's one of the differences between following a generic "off the shelf" plan and one that is designed to your needs. It helps identify the good things you're doing now, and the most effective changes you can make right away to have the most impact. It's a real eye opener, even for people who think they knew everything about their diet and how to "eat right." Did you know that some of the foods you think you eat "once in awhile" can make the difference between losing weight and staying the same? Do you know how often you can eat some of your favorite foods and still maintain a healthy diet that leads to good weight control? To learn how your diet habits are impeding your long term weight control, consider our free diet profile - see first hand what makes a Personal Diet Plan better for you.

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The Dietitian's Mail Q & A:
Dear Carolyn,

My name is Mary. ,I know I need to lose weight. I weigh 185 and am 5'1
.I know I'm an emotional eater and that's not good. I usually go to a gym at least 3 days a wk but haven't really gone since we moved in April. I know I need help and don't know where to start. Like I say I'm an emotional eater out of control. ThankYou

Dear Mary:
Recognizing that you eat for emotional reasons is an important observation, and it is something you can take positive action to change. First of all, you are not alone. For many, many people, certain emotions cause them to eat beyond feelings of hunger. Common emotional cues are depression, anger, boredom, frustration, loneliness (to name a few). Typically, when people cite emotional eating concerns, I suggest that they get extra help beyond getting a weight loss plan. For our members, we have a counseling referral inventory (it's a self-scoring assessment) that you can take on our site that can help you determine what level of support you might benefit most from. Although when you have a diet membership plan, you have access to the dietitian, such questions usually involve food/nutrition/exercise rather than psychological issues. That's why we have access to other forms of support that so many people need: diet pals (e-mail peer support) for friendship and support, and an on-line licensed counselor for issues where professional help is needed. This may be enough, but you may also need help from a qualified counselor in your local area - you can start by asking your physician for a referral if that is the route you choose. It's never a bad time to get a healthier eating plan, but do review your options for getting some extra help with your emotional concerns.

Sincerely,
Carolyn Classick-Kohn, MS,RD

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Weight Control Managing your Weight Loss

Weight Control
Managing your Weight Loss