A recent study determined 27% of American adults are actively on a diet with another 39% "watching" their weight and yet with each year the numbers of overweight people continue to rise. It seems a week doesn't go by there isn't another diet book on the market. You have diet experts and gurus who can't seem to agree on which diet is the best for us. The truth of the matter is that 95% of the people who lose weight on any diet gain the weight back with many adding additional pounds to their pre-diet weight. There are support groups, point systems, value cards, pills, powders, and potions...plus all kinds of gimmacks, and yet as a nation we continue to get fatter and fatter. Some of the plans and devices out there are outright dangerous. For most of us, diets just don't (and won't ever) work for permanent weight loss.

The truth of the matter is that one diet does not fit all. There are many reasons why a person may become overweight. Weight loss needs to be an individualized approach based upon realistic goals, sound nutrition, and safe physical activity. You need to be in the driver's seat, actively controlling your weight loss program. It has to be safe and healthy, involving your mind, body, and entire lifestyle. Most of all it has to be a plan you can live (and stay) with. It should be based on good "real" foods and offer you a variety of healthy eating choices while allowing for some of your old favorites so you don't feel deprived. While some people do well on a low fat, or vegetarian diet, others do better on a high protein low carbohydrate diet. The key is education, listening to your body, and closely monitoring your response to your dietary changes.