One of the biggest problems when it comes to dieting and weight loss is that most people see the whole process of shedding some weight and returning to a healthy weight as something temporary in their lives, something that comes and goes, an unpleasant but necessary period that nearly everyone has to go through now and again. It’s all part of enjoying life, even if you have to pay a small price later on for all the good things you’ve eaten, the late nights, late mornings and long office hours that kept you from going to the gym and other things of the sort.

Another problem, just as important as the first one, is that most people rush headlong into a crash diet as if, somehow, by torturing their bodies with starvation, so that they can ensure good results. And the cycle can go on and on for long periods of time because the crunch is always followed by a resumption of the lifestyle that led to it being necessary in the first place. As time passes, diets become less and less effective because the body gets used to the crash diet and also because extra weight is harder and harder to get rid of.

The answer to all these problems is to get into the habit of living a healthy lifestyle, one that does not make you fat and, consequently, does not feature a diet after every Christmas. Cutting out most food suddenly is not a wise decision, especially if you’re used to eating as much as you please. Jumping on the treadmill and running till you drop is not a good idea if you’re not used to a bit of exercise every other day. What you should be looking for is a slow and careful transition to a different way of living.

Instead of just starving yourself and hoping it would do the trick, you should take a good look at your eating habits and see if there’s anything wrong with them. Ideally, you should have three meals every day and some fruits or vegetables as snacks in between them, should you feel the need for a snack. Slowly, you can start phasing out sweets, soft drinks, hamburgers and all sorts of fast food products, while at the same time educating yourself about your choices. Always try to eat a healthy amount of food, especially since your body may notice the slight drop in the daily amount of calories and may request more food to compensate.

And, since the body gets only a fixed amount of food, it’s pretty simple to start losing weight by increasing your daily activity levels. This will provide the necessary impulse for your weight loss process as the body will be forced to expend accumulated energy to make up for the difference in consumption. And keep in mind that exercises don’t have to be push ups or sit ups. Instead of just picking up a workout book on and following it to the letter, try to find something you like to do. Exercising and dieting is always better if you like what you’re doing.