Cabbage soup, juice fasts, diet pills, and even colon cleansing have all been heralded as the next big breakthrough for quick weight loss. Most everyone who needs to lose – whether just a few pounds or many – has tried similar diets. Maybe you have, as well.

Like most quick fixes in life, though, these fast weight-loss plans offer a temporary solution at best. Once you stop replacing every meal with carrot juice, you’ll just as quickly gain all the weight back – and more. So why do we turn to these fad diets again and again?

The Promise We Want to Believe

We all want a miracle cure. After all, who wants to spend another mind-numbing hour on the treadmill when you can simply take a pill and watch the pounds melt away?

Likewise, we don’t want to even consider giving up our favorite desserts or dinners out. It’s much more appealing to spend five days on a juice fast to shed the weight.

In addition, the diet industry knows that we are much more likely to buy if big promises are made. And since we desperately want this journey to be easy and fast, we believe.

Real Weight Loss – No Miracle Needed

Here’s the real problem, though: We’re far too focused on instant results. Rather than looking only at the short-term plan, a better option is to look for a lifelong goal of better health and fitness. The number on the scale is only one part of that, and the time frame becomes much less important when you know you’re making a permanent change.

Even better, when you plan for the long term, you don’t have to make sacrifices, suffer through days or weeks of self-imposed starvation, or be bored at the gym. By adopting a healthier lifestyle, you’ll still be able to enjoy family dinners, holidays, and even your favorite desserts. And you can do it without worrying about gaining a few unwanted pounds.

For some people, figuring out a plan for healthy living is tough. If you don’t know where to start, your local weight-loss clinic can help. They’ll work with you to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients and adequate exercise, and that you’re still able to enjoy your favorite treats. They’ll help you find an exercise routine you actually enjoy, and they will offer support when things don’t go as planned, or if you aren’t seeing the results you expect. A good weight-loss clinic will not try to sell you the miracle of fast, easy weight loss, but will, instead, teach you to be healthy for life.

Remember, you likely didn’t gain the weight quickly, and you’re not going to lose it quickly either. That’s not a bad thing, though. When you lose weight slowly, you make lasting changes to your eating and exercise habits that will help you stay fit and trim for a lifetime. Isn’t that your primary goal, after all?