How to Stick to Your Diet

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Boredom, negative feelings, weekends, and holidays can trigger you to overeat. Reach your goal by staying motivated and sticking to your diet.

Step 1: Change mindset
Change your mindset. Acknowledge that "eating whatever and whenever you want" often leaves you feel unpleasantly full and uncomfortable, which, in reality, is exactly what you don't want.

Tip
Acknowledge that you are in control of what you eat.

Step 2: Make a list
Make a list of the reasons you want to lose weight and keep the list with you. Read your list throughout the day, every day, to stay motivated.

Step 3: Plan meals
Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. If you'll be eating out or drinking alcohol, allow yourself to enjoy a small, predetermined portion of one of your favorite high-calorie treats so that you don't feel deprived.

Step 4: Keep track of food intake
Write down everything you eat in a journal to keep yourself aware of and honest about your food intake.

Step 5: Set goals
Set small, short-terms goals. When you meet them, feel good about yourself and reward yourself with a non-food related treat.

Tip
Focus on a realistic weekly weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds.

Step 6: Weigh yourself
Weigh yourself once a week at minimum, but realize that weighing yourself is only one way to track your progress. Before you know it, eating healthfully -- and feeling good about it -- will become second nature.

Did You Know?
The most craved food by women in the United States is chocolate.