Make a plan

Next time you read a weight-loss story in a newspaper or magazine,
count the number of disparaging references to popular diets. Based on
the way diet gurus trash their competitors, you'd think there was no
plan on earth that actually works. But the truth is that you can't lose
weight without a diet.



You must have a plan. The more sophisticated it is, and the more
tailored to your likes and dislikes, the better. You can't wing it and
expect to see results. I won't offer you the perfect weight-loss
regimen, because research has yet to discover one. But even the worst
plan is more likely to succeed than no plan at all.



The best plan is likely to include these elements:



• Meals and snacks are based on some lean protein source--fish, eggs, dairy, meat.



• More meals are better than fewer. Five or six meals and snacks a day is ideal.



• Low-fat and high-fat diets can both work, but one that cuts almost all fat is doomed.



• Nobody ever became obese from eating the best
carbohydrates--fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. And nobody ever
died from skipping potatoes, pasta, rice, popcorn, and Wonder Bread.






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