Successful Dieting: The Top Five "Don't" Rules

by Deborah English — November 21, 2007

If you're determined to diet, make sure you do it properly. You've read the entire diet "do" rules a million times right? Well, here are the top five diet "don't" rules that will help you to help yourself to the successful dieting results you want.

Don't Set Unrealistic Expectations--Do you think you are going to lose 20lbs of fat in 4 weeks, or have the body of El McPherson and you're 5'3", or stick to a super-strict diet regime perfectly until you reach your desired weight? Sorry, the odds say you're in for major disappointment. And, if you're anything as human as me, failing to realize your expectations are unrealistic will result in disillusionment with yourself (and maybe the world?) and you'll probably end up staring at the bottom of a few ice-cream containers.

Don't Choose Foods Labeled as "Low Fat"--Most food modified to be low fat has extra sugars, sodium, and starch-based thickeners added to make it taste "fatty." And as you know; sugar and starch might as well be fat, and sodium makes you retain fluid, which makes you look fat. So, I can't see the point really. Read the labels of all low fat food to see what's really in them.

Don't Cut Out Fat--Am I saying that eating fat helps you lose weight? Too right! Fat staves off hunger, helps your body absorb nutrients, and keeps your metabolism working on high - helping you to burn fat! Stick to vegetable and fish sources, though, like avocados, nuts, salmon, tuna, and tofu.

Don't Do Crash Diets--Crash diets are temporary diets. They don't work - the weight always goes back on. They're bad for you health. Don't even think about it!

Don't Skip Meals--Skipping meals slows your metabolism. That means you're burning less energy, and that's fat still sitting on your hips!

So there are my top five "don't" rules. If you have some additional "don't" rules, I'd love to hear about them.