If you have not already done so please read my article on Fad Diets before reading this series on information about all the popular diets now available to us for our choosing. We can consider diets as an alternative eating pattern from our normal way of eating.

In my article on Fad Diets I just scratched the surface on all the types of diets available to us today. Some of these diets I have tried in the past, others I had just heard of and then others I did not know existed. Can any of these diets give us the weight results that we are looking for without robbing our bodies of their essential daily nutrients to stay healthy? I guess you have to decide what is right for you alone and go for it.

In this economy I can bet that money could be a problem for most of us in chosing a diet plan that we would like to start. Many of us just do not have the extra funds to buy into some of these plans. Others of us may have the money to get started, see some results only to have to quit because money is short and there is not enough funds to follow through with the plan we chose.

Our first family doctor, was an old-time traditional house calling doctor. After I had my first baby I was wanting to lose some pounds gained. I had gone from 110# to an awful 125#'s. Boy, I would feel so blessed to have that 125#'s back today.

This doctor said, "you have to eat three balanced meals a day, from each the food groups and cut your portions in half. Learn to push yourself away from the table before feeling full or otherwise just slightly hungry. Don't eat until you feel you can't take a comfortable breath. You need to also cut down on the carbs. Leave the cookies, cakes, pies, ice creams and all those other goodies at the store. Pick up apples, celery, oranges grapes or anything healthy, and you will lose weight." My doctor also said, "if you just cannot live without that sweet treat, go ahead and enjoy, but eat just a few bites and stop, and do not make a habit of it." He also said that, "a sweet treat to a foodaholic is the same thing as giving a drink to an alcoholic, as one bite of something we are craving is like that one drink. The big problem for many of us is that we do not want to give up the things that we enjoy the most. And, we don't have to if we can use good old will power.

I followed his advise and I lost the weight I wanted. The thing is that unless I changed my eating pattern for LIFE the weight would come right back on, and it did. The thing about this type of diet or any other diet you feel comfortable with starting, is a LIFE CHANGING, forever decision or the success you will see will be short-lived. You have to make sure that your particular diet choice is going to give you all the nutrients that your body needs every single day to stay healthy and fit and that it is an eating pattern that you enjoy and can live with forever.

If you are going to start a diet plan you also need to figure out some sort of exercise plan also because the two go hand in hand. You will see little success in a diet without exercise.

My next several articles will be devoted to exploring most of the diets available to us today. The diets that sound like they would be ok and the ones that do not sound good for us. If you are looking for a diet plan and find one that you think will work for you, speak to your doctor first and get his ok.

So please follow me as we explore what diets are available and try to find one that sparks your interest.

Here's to your continued health and wellbeing.