6 Reasons Why Your Last Diet Didnt Work

If youre at the end of your rope with trying diets and eating programs that arent working, it might be time to face the music. You might be falling into diet sabotage without even realizing it. Diet sabotage can happen to anyone, and usually we dont realize how harmful simple ideas or words can be to our day to day actions until its too late. Here are 6 reasons why your last diet didnt work, and of course, some tips to help avoid these in the future.

You Went In Expecting to Fail

If you go into a diet program feeling skeptical of it, or feeling insecure in your ability to do it, youre setting yourself up to fail. With each new opportunity you approach, you need to feel 100% confident in the process and in your ability to stick to it.

• The wrong mindset: "Ive failed at everything else Ive tried, Im sure this will be no different. But Ill give it a try."
• The right mindset: "This time its going to work because Im going to make it work."

Your Goal Wasnt Realistic

While confidence is crucial to success, over-confidence is not. Going into a diet with the idea that its going to fix all your problems and help you lose half your body weight with a few weeks of better eating is just plain unrealistic. Its also worth mentioning that if your goal involves dropping below a healthy weight, its not realistic. Be sure to check out your BMI while you set your goal, then create a realistic timeline to help you reach your healthy weight. There will be good days and bad days, its all a process and its important to acknowledge the process when defining your goals.

• The wrong mindset: "Im going to lose 30 pounds this month and finally get down to 110." 

• The right mindset: "My goal is to lose 2 pounds per week and get out of the overweight category on the BMI chart by end of the year."

You Didnt Ask For Help

At times you might feel like youre all alone in your weight loss battle, and when youre struggling, that can be hard to deal with. The truth is, youre not alone. Even if none of your friends and your family support you, there are forums and Facebook Groups out there dedicated to supporting people who are trying to lose weight. You can always find encouragement and get answers to your questions when youre struggling. All you have to do is reach out and ask for help.

• The wrong mindset: "No one understands what Im going through."
• The right mindset: "I am going to look for people who can help support me."

You Failed to Plan

If you know you have a huge party coming up or if youre planning around a vacation, you might not want to start a diet until those events are completed. Starting a diet and having to take a break mid-way through and start up again can be really difficult. Its not impossible to navigate events, but it does require planning, including taking lunches or setting a timeline for getting back on track after the event is over.

• The wrong mindset: "Oh, I forgot I have a wedding coming up. I guess Ill just quit my diet now since Ill be eating cake."
• The right mindset: "I know I have a wedding coming up, I need to make sure I eat before I go and avoid the cake table so I can stick to my diet."

You Werent Committed

Commitment issues arent just for relationships. Committing to a diet can be just as tough as finding a lover you can settle down with. Commitment means staying focused on what you want long-term and giving up what you want in the moment. Being committed to your diet means avoiding the doughnut shop on Friday mornings and hitting the gym instead. Just like you wouldnt cheat on your partner, you shouldnt cheat on your diet. If you cant commit to that idea, then you shouldnt start a diet until you can.

• The wrong mindset: "One little cheat wont hurt."
• The right mindset: "I know I want this treat now, but I want to fit into my size 7 jeans even more."

You Werent in it for the Long Game

Its so important to remember that dieting is not a permanent fix. If you go back to how you were eating before you started the diet, youll most likely gain the weight back. Remember that once you finish your diet program, youll still need to make healthy, balanced choices. While it may only take a month or two to reach your goal weight, its going to a much longer commitment to smart choices in order to maintain your weight loss.

• The wrong mindset: "Once I finish this diet, Im going to eat a large pizza all by myself."
• The right mindset: "Once I finish this diet, Im going to make sure I plan healthy meals so I dont go back to eating fast food every night."

Have you done any of these? Remember that you can lose weight. Dont sabotage your own success and always make sure youre mentally prepared before you start. Being involved 100% in your desire to get healthy is critical for success. When you prepare mentally, youll see success physically!

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5 Signs that you Need to Detox

Spring is slowly but surely approaching, and as you make plans for spring cleaning you house, you might also want to consider spring cleaning your body. OK, that sounds weird... let me clarify: Ladies, its time for a detox! Dont believe me? Here are 5 signs that you need a detox.

1. Sleeping beauty has an easier time getting out of bed than you.

If you press the snooze button more than 3 times each morning, youre obviously more tired than you should be. Doing a detox can help you have more energy to get up and greet the day with enthusiasm. Since detoxing helps flush out harmful toxins and chemicals that make you feel tired & groggy, getting up in the morning will feel less like waking the dead, and more like a fresh start.

2. Things have been rumbling and tumbling down under.
Theres is a reason this one is number two... ladies were going to talk for a second about number two. Bare with me. Youre not sure whats happening in your stomach, but everything is broken when it comes to bathroom time. Even when you feel like you need to, you just cant go. Once per day is the ideal frequency for number two, but if youre going a day or so with no movement, you need to detox. Sometimes when we arent getting enough fiber, our digestive system has a hard time moving things through. This happens when we eat too much junk foods that dont have much nutritional value. The great thing about detoxing is that you can get rid of some of the waste that is building up in your body. Getting rid of this waste will help ease a lot of the cramping that often accompanies constipation.

3. As bad as youve been breaking out, youd think that youve been washing your face in pizza grease.

When you eat junk, it affects your skin. It messes with your body chemistry and this can manifest in the form of breakouts. Me personally, I break out if I drink soda. My body doesnt react well with artificial sweeteners. Detoxing is great for your skin, a good detox will take your skin from dull and blemished to radiant and clear.

4. The button on your skinny jeans has more stress on it than an valedictorian during finals. 
Bloating is bad news. Water retention happens to everyone at some point or another. It can be caused by workout out and getting sore the next day, eating too much salt, and Aunt Flos monthly visit. Typically water retention sticks around for 3-4 days, but what most people dont know is that it doesnt need to be suffered through for so long. You can minimize water retention by regularly doing a detox. Most detoxes contain ingredients that help your body release excess water, such as lemon juice.

5. Youre thinking about checking yourself into rehab, because seriously.... Your eating habits lately, are an issue.

If you need to break an eating habit like snacking before bed, bored eating, or eating too much in single sitting, detoxing is one of the best ways to do it. It helps get rid of the chemicals in your body that are keeping you addicted to food. There are several detoxes out there that help curb your appetite, too.

Have you ever gone on Facebook and cleared off all the embarrassing pictures of you from your college days, then afterward felt like a new person? Doing a detox is kind of like that. Its like a total body reset. After you get rid of all of the toxins in your body, its easier to start fresh with healthier habits!

So what are your detox options?

Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse has been around since the 1940s. It gives your body enough nutrients to function, and you basically just drink the drink and eat nothing else. The drink combines organic lemons, organic Grade A maple syrup, organic cayenne and filtered water. These ingredients help flush your system out. It is typically a seven day cleanse. While I personally havent tried it, I know that Beyonce used it to slim down for Dream Girls. For me, the reason I didnt choose Master Cleanse for a detox is because I dont have time to mix up the stuff through out the day. Its not very convenient for me, but like I said, thats just my take.

Dr. Oz Detox Diet
A couple weeks ago, my mom was looking in to doing the Dr. Oz Detox Diet. Its only a few days long which is a major plus. The program includes all of the recipes, and the smoothies look delicious. One draw back to this program is the cost. Because the ingredients on the Dr. Oz Detox Diet all have to be fresh and organic, its slightly pricey. Also you have to have access to a blender throughout the day or you have to prep all of your smoothies before hand and pack them with you throughout the day. If you have prep time, a blender, and a budget for organic fruits and veggies, it would be a great detox to try.

Lemonade Diet 

Learn More About Lemonade Diet By Clicking on the Image!

The Lemonade diet is actually a supplement and not so much a diet, but aside from the name, this has been Lemonade Diet is more convenient than most other detoxes Ive researched, which is a huge plus because Im always running errands or rushing out the door.  It contains the stuff that is in the Master Cleanse, but in powder form. The Lemonade is delicious and so I never feel like Im torturing or punishing myself by drinking a couple bottles of it each day. When I use Lemonade Diet, I notice that I dont feel hungry, I dont feel bloated after eating, and I have so much more energy than the days when I dont drink it. Out of the three, I would say that the Lemonade Diet is the most convenient and most cost effective. In fact, its less than a dollar per day to do it for a month!
my detox of choice. It comes in a capsule or powder form. The powder mixes with water. You just add it to your daily regimen, you dont need to totally stop eating food, and you can actually use it daily, its not just a two day thing.

Which detoxes have you tried? Are you planning on doing one again?

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How to Stick to Your Diet During the Weekend

Am I the only one who has to fight the urge to stuff my face during the weekend? Theres something about Fridays sweet, sweet arrival that makes me want to eat all the food in the world, and its really frustrating the way eating poorly for a couple days on the weekend can completely undo all of my work to lose weight from the week before.

This has been such a struggle for me lately and its one Ive been trying to deal with and figure out. Heres the thing: I work so hard during the week to let two little days ruin everything. Ive tried a few things that Im please to report have worked and since the weekend is fast approaching, I figured Id better pass those along to you!

Tips for Weekend Dieting 

Start your day with a morning workout - First thing Saturday morning, 

wake up and workout. This sets a precedent for your weekend. Do your workout first thing in the morning before you day starts getting really busy. One of the things that has worked for me is going for a run Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m.. It helps me wake up and taking the first few steps is like making a commitment to myself that Im seriously about being strong this weekend.

Follow your workout with a healthy breakfast - Skip the indulgent breakfast of waffles and bacon and spend time making something healthy instead. Eat a piece of fruit, shake up a protein shake, or scramble eggs. The healthy options are endless, but the point is to make sure that your first meal of the day during the weekend is healthy. It will set the tone for the rest of the day.

Take water with you everywhere - Theres just something about carrying around a bottle of water that makes you want be healthier. Not only are you less likely to cave to sugary/carbonated beverages when youre sipping on H20, but youre also staying hydrated which is important for controlling your appetite.

Set limits for yourself - Dont go into the weekend with a free for all mindset. As much as wed like to think weekends dont count, they do. All of the calories you are eating add up, so set limits for yourself. Maybe you do increase your calories a little bit on the weekend. For instance maybe instead of eating 1500 you allow yourself to eat 1700 calories. You still feel like youre getting a little splurge, but youre still tracking what youre eating and staying conscious of where you are for your daily caloric total. You can also make your weekend reward not associated with food. Set the limit to stick to your diet, but reward yourself with a new pair of paints or a purse. Its completely possible to enjoy your weekend without going off the deep end.

Take ownership - Its easy to say, "Well, Im so busy on the weekends, its just impossible to eat healthy." Thats a cop out and you know it. Weekends are busy, of course they are.  We all know this. And since we all know this, we can plan around this. Own your diet. Own your health. Decide that you are going to eat healthy no matter where you are or who you are with, because deep down you know that your health is mor important than any celebration with food. You also know that youll feel 100 times better come Monday morning when you weigh in and see a number that is lower than what it was on Friday. You know all of these things. So own it. 

So those are the things that Ive tried. I hope that helps you a little bit. What are some things that youve tried to stay focused on the weekend? Post them in the comments section below!

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Why I decided to do the HCG Diet Despite the Controversy

This morning Im a little frustrated. Ive been spending some time on forums recently, talking to people who are trying to lose weight or who are asking questions about HCG. I feel pretty educated on the matter. Ive managed to lose weight . A lot of it. And I work for a company that sales HCG. Ive used their drops and have been completely transparent about my journey. I know my way around the pros and cons of the diet. Truly, I do.

So, why am I frustrated? I hate when I see people who are hopelessly overweight, grasping for an answer, asking questions about the HCG Diet and they are met with the response: "Youre starving yourself, youll gain it all back." Its especially frustrating when they get this answer from people who have never been overweight. Even more frustrating when they get this answer from people who know nothing about the diet.

I was told things like this by several of my friends and family members. "Youll just gain it back."

Despite their doubt, despite what the FDA said, I decided to give it a shot. I started June 2012.

In March 2013 I hit my 100 pound weight loss mark. Today, I am 8 pounds above that (post holidays) while

on my TOM. Nearly 11 months later and Ive fluctuated less than 10 pounds. I understand the concerns surrounding the HCG Diet. I know it is low calorie. I know that its hard. But, I also know that it is a short term program meant to spur quick results that motivate you to make a lifestyle change. Because I lost weight with HCG, I was able to start exercising without joint pain. I was able to retrain my body to crave healthy, delicious foods instead of crap. It took me 293 days to lose the weight and Ive kept it off for 11 months.

Current Weight: 193. Starting Weight: 285

So to all the people who think HCG is a dangerous fad diet, to all the people who told me Id gain it all back: How dare you doubt me when I am already swimming in my own self doubt. How dare you tell me that eating 500 calories for 26 days is more dangerous than a lifetime of eating 3500 calories per day. How dare you tell me that if I just made an effort I could do it without a diet. And how dare you tell me Id gain it all back. You do not know what Ive tried, what Ive been through, and what I need. Most of all, you dont know how wrong you are.

I guess it is so frustrating because I see how sensitive weight loss is for those who are morbidly obese. And for someone to be brave enough to ask for help on a public forum, just to be shot down...It breaks my heart. I know how much Ive changed, and grown and blossomed because of losing weight. I dont want a stranger to rob someone they dont know of that opportunity by telling them theyll fail.

So, to those who are considering doing the HCG Diet. Heres some advice for you from someone who knows what its like to be extremely overweight, from someone whos lost weight with HCG despite the controversy: Theres hope for your situation. Research. Learn. Plan. Get regular check ups. Make sure you are being smart about taking breaks between rounds.Go through a site you trust. Ask questions from people who have done what you are trying to. Regardless of which diet you choose, it is a life long journey. After losing the weight I wanted to with HCG, I knew I couldnt go back to how I was eating before I started. Obviously thats what contributed to my obesity...I realized that maintaining weight loss meant changing my habits long term. I had to learn to eat healthy consistently. I had to learn to exercise. HCG was a jump start into a healthier lifestyle. Its hard changing old habits, but its the best change Ive ever made.

People will doubt you. They will be skeptical of your methods, but it is your life, not theirs. You have the power to change your situation. You do not ever need to feel stuck or helpless, even if there are people in your life trying to convince you otherwise.

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The HCG Diet Are You Over Dieting

The recent passing of Peaches Geldof has stirred up a lot of controversy about her diet and diet history. While her autopsy was inconclusive and the tox screen is being processed, many wonder if her eating habits played a role in her sudden death.

 It saddens me to see a young mother die so soon. It saddens me even more to think that it may have been because of her desire to lose weight.

This thought has urged me to examine my current diet as well as offer some advice on what it looks like to over-diet.

Like many girls and women I know what it feels like to NEED to lose weight. I know how it feels to be desperately unhappy with your body. I also know what it feels like to lose weight, and I know how easily a healthy adjustment can turn into an unhealthy obsession.

So that raises the question, are your goals unrealistic? Are you going overboard with your diet?

Here are 6 signs that you are over-dieting and losing weight in an unhealthy way:
1. You arent eating any unprocessed solid foods for long periods of time. If you daily menu is made up of weight loss shakes and pills and not much else, you need to make some adjustments. But what about juicing? If you are going to do a juicing diet, make sure that you do your research and consult a physician before you start.

2. You get really light headed and sometimes even pass out. This is most likely do to not eating enough or not eating the right kinds of foods. If you are on a diet that doesnt allow you to eat protein then its time to check out another option.

3. You are overwhelmingly tired. This is also another sign that your body isnt getting the nutrients it needs. Your diet needs to include fruits, vegetables and proteins. The plain and simple fact is this: your body needs a certain amount of fuel to function. If you dont get that fuel, you might lose weight but your body will start shutting down.

4. You feel guilty when you eat healthy foods. You shouldnt feel guilty for eating more celery than what your diet plan allows. You shouldnt feel guilty when you eat a nice well rounded meal. If you notice this happening, it might be a sign that you are becoming obsessed with losing weight. Take a step back an re-examine your priorities.

5. You are going long periods of time on a restricted calorie diet without seeing any weight loss. Your body is most likely in starvation mode. It isnt getting enough calories and so it is storing what you eat to save for later because it doesnt know if youll be feeding it again.

6. You are skipping meals or throwing up to make up for things you dont think you should have eaten.

None of these things are healthy. In fact, if you feel or do any of these things long term, it can have serious effects on your body.

It is so easy to go from being healthy and losing weight to obsessing and causing more harm than good. So when it comes to the HCG Diet, there are certain measures you need to take to make sure youre going about things the healthy way. Here are some tips for making sure you stay healthy while on the HCG Diet:

1. Eat all of your servings of food, even if you arent hungry. Because of the appetite suppressants in the HCG Triumph formula, toward the end of your round on HCG you may not feel very hungry but it is essential to eat all of your food. Each serving is planned specifically to give your body nutrients that it needs.

2. If you feel light headed, eat an extra serving of protein. You body may need some additional protein temporarily, especially around your period.

3. If you start to feel sleepy on the HCG Diet, make sure you are taking your Vitamin B12 supplement as well as your multivitamin. Both are meant to give you energy and keep you feeling great while you lose weight.

4. If you feel hungry and need to eat some extra celery, that is OK. Really it is. While the HCG protocol is strict when it comes to servings of food, you know your body best. You never need to feel guilty about eating additional vegetables.

5. The HCG Diet is done is cycles. Your first round on the 500 calorie diet lasts between 10-40 days. Then you cycle off the 500 calories and in to maintenance. Maintenance should be 4-6 weeks long and ideally it is done for as many days as you were on the low calorie portion. The Maintenance Phase is critical to your overall health and it needs to be done EVERY TIME you do the HCG Diet. Dont skip it because you are 5 pounds away from your goal and just a few more days will get you there. Maintenance allows you body and your metabolism to adjust to your new weight and more calories.

6. If you have a cheat day, dont try to correct it by throwing up or skipping meals. Just move one. The next day will start fresh and you can do better. Throwing up and skipping meals is never a healthy option and there are always alternative ways to get back on track. Always strive to do better the next day, dont let the mistakes from today push you to do things that will harm your body.

When done the right way, the HCG Diet isnt over-dieting. It can be a great jump-start to help you lose weight. Just make sure that when you do it, you follow the protocol that was built for your body to stay healthy.







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Reason 1 Why You Cant Lose Weight Youre a Failure!

Do you ever feel like a failure? What about when it comes to eating healthy, exercising or doing a diet program?

I read an interesting article (which Im not entirely sure is reliable) that stated that the average woman who diets will try two times as many diets as shell have sexual partners. So... Whats your number? No... not number of sexual partners, how many diets have you tried?

Im not sure that this rings true in all cases, but even just thinking about it, I know true for some of my girlfriends. In some cases, Im willing to bet its more than twice the amount.

I read another statistic that by the end of her life, the average woman has spent 31 years dieting! WHHHHAAAATTTT? How crazy is that? Why do we do it to ourselves? Well I think part of it is the media telling us that we need a diet to be thinner and happier, but I also think that the larger part of it is a continual cycle of negative self talk.

 Heres what I mean:

Youre feeling great, you feel like you look great. Then something happens. Youre out with family and they pressure you into eating bad food, or you have a bad day and slip up. Then suddenly you feel fat and bloated. Thats when you start your diet. The First week, youre losing weight and you feel good. Then you have a hard day and binge. You get discouraged for having a hard day, you feel like a failure so you eat more. You feel like a hopeless case so you try to act like youre OK with not losing weight. You decide to just try to be healthy instead of focusing on weight loss. Your healthier choices make you feel good, you feel like you look good... and then the cycle starts again.

Lets correct some of the emotional, negative statements from the image:
1) You are NOT a failure because you slip up.
2) You do NOT suck.
3) You are NOT a pig.

4) You CAN lose weight
5) You CAN decide to do better
6) You CAN feel confident regardless of how much you weigh

Lets look at the facts of the situation. You messed up. You know that sticking to your diet makes you feel good. You know that eating bad food makes you feel bad. But all of these things are easily changed.

YOURE A FAILURE!

As soon as you tell yourself youre a failure, youve failed. Not because you arent good at a diet, but because youve failed to find the innate value of all of the other things that make you an incredible person. Youve failed to get back on the horse. Having a binge day is not a failure. Its a human experience that you can learn to control. The real failure is in convincing yourself that you arent capable of doing hard things. The real failure is negative self-talk.

Even the best of us do it. Each day we wake up we wage a war on ourselves wishing we were taller, shorter, skinnier, curvier, darker, lighter, happier, funnier. We do it to ourselves, and its time to stop.

Im not saying that we stop making an effort to be healthier or to improve ourselves. What Im saying is that if you decide that you want to lose weight, and if you decide that you want to go on a diet, make sure you are avoiding this cycle. More often than not, negativity and feeling like a failure are the main reasons people give up on their diets.

So how do you stop it? How do you break the cycle even when youve messed up? Its simple, so simple, in fact, that I can sum up the idea in two words: Begin Again.

 So what? You binged. Honestly darling, its not a big deal. Im going to let you in on a little  BIG secret: if you get back on track the next day, chances are most of the weight you gained (if any) will come off within 48 hours. All you have to do is give it two honest days of sticking to your program. Boom. Youre back on track.

When you feel negative, remind yourself that you have more to offer this world besides being thin. You are so much more than a number on your scale, and if youre trying to improve that number, dont let the progress or setbacks of that one goal affect your ENTIRE day, week or even month. Its only a small aspect of who you are so it only deserves a small aspect of your emotions. There is always tomorrow. Breathe in and begin again.

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