A diet is something we go on reluctantly because we know it’s going to deprive us of those things we like the best.  We expect to be off the diet at some point but we also fear going off of it because we’ve been down the “yo-yo road” before.  In fact the only thing we look forward to when going on a diet is the possible fat burning. 

On the other hand, a fat burning lifestyle plan is something that is sensible, flexible, is individualized, doesn’t eliminate any particular foods completely, includes exercise, can easily be followed for the rest of our lives, and has realistic goals. That is why it’s easier both physically and mentally to be on a fat burning lifestyle rather than a diet.  Just as important is the fact that a fat burning lifestyle is a more effective and permanent way to lose fat.

Characteristics of a Fat Burning Lifestyle

A fat burning lifestyle:

• Has an adequate number of daily calories.  Calorie intake should be below what you burn daily but not so low that you’re hungry a lot.
• Includes at least 4-5 eating episodes per day.
• Includes all food groups (e.g. bread/cereal, fruit/vegetable, protein, and dairy).
• Includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Is high in fiber.
• Does not exclude carbohydrates.
• Includes some protein in each meal.
• Includes aerobic as well as muscle resistance exercises at least five times per week.
• Does not exclude your favorite foods.
• Does not force you to eat foods you don’t like but encourages you to experiment with recipes to help you find ways to make nutritious foods that you haven’t liked, tasty.
• Focuses on increasing your activity level in general-gets you off the couch and moving around.
• Focuses less on the weight and more on the behaviors that burn fat (e.g. moving more, increasing fiber and nutrition, portion control).
• Doesn’t involve strict measuring and counting but easy ways of understanding portion control and nutrition.

Why go on a fat burning lifestyle plan instead of a diet?

• Ninety percent of dieting attempts fail with the dieter regaining more weight than was originally lost.
• Diets make you feel deprived and hungry.  A fat burning lifestyle plan encourages frequent eating which prevents hunger and burns more fat.
• Diets focus primarily on a low calorie food plan rather than increasing exercise and muscle building which are the most efficient ways of burning fat.
• With a fat burning lifestyle plan your favorite foods are not completely eliminated so you don’t feel deprived.
• Diets make you preoccupied with food which leads to overeating.

These are just a few of the reasons why diets don’t work and why, if you want to succeed at weight loss, you should stay clear of diets and instead choose a sensible and realistic fat burning lifestyle plan.  I recommend that you read my post on why diets fail which will give a better understanding of how to set up your weight loss plan in a smart way and avoid failure.  It’s about fat burning for a lifetime not just while you’re on a diet.