Okay, so what is the secret, you ask. It is simple to find a diet that you can stick with. Forever. And ever. Amen. Does that you can never indulge in a single forbidden bite? No! Unless you enjoy eating like a masochist, in which case you are probably thin already. But seriously, a diet that is so strict would automatically doom most people to failure. Here the three failure factors to consider when choosing a diet plan.



Are Foods Forbidden?

Forbidden or restricted foods are a red flag to proceed with caution in any diet. Are they foods you can live without? My friend, Anna, and her husband lost a total of over 100 pounds on the South Beach Diet. They are still always careful about their carbohydrate intake, and will need to be for the rest of their lives in order to maintain their new healthy weights. But that is okay, because they do not miss the carbs as much as someone else might (me!). So think long and hard and realistically about whether you can live happily ever after without the foods your chosen diet forbids or restricts. And if a diet limits you to a few select foods forever and ever - forget it!

Can You Afford It?

If your diet involves eating wild-caught salmon three times a day, you had better be pretty well off. Not many people I know can afford to eat that way for very long. And those pre-packaged diets, like NutriSystem are expensive too. So if you have a lot of weight to lose, it might be best to give something else a try. On the other hand, if you can afford it and those plans sound like something you could stick do, by all means try them. Keep reminding yourself that the most important thing in choosing a diet is that you can maintain that eating style for life.

Do You Have the Time?

Some diets have such complicated menus that you would need a day at the grocery store and every day free just for cooking. Others are simple. Yet another genre gives you a set number of days on a diet, and the other days you are expected to eat normal portions of any foods. This is best for people who like flexibility and who are pressed for time.

My friend Carrie is a huge fan of this type of diet, and it keeps her thin. She eats healthy portions of whatever she wants, and every couple of months she goes on a ten-day program that rotates cleansing with healthy eating. Carrie swears by this system because technically, nothing is forbidden, and she says she feels great after her cleanse days. Plus, she can make meals for the whole day all at once in the morning. But if you are into structure and need to be told exactly what to eat and when, this type of diet is not for you.

Choosing the right diet is just a matter of picking one you can stick with. That does not mean that it is easy to find the perfect eating plan. But it is easy to stop wasting time on diets that definitely will not work for you. Now get out there and find your dream diet!