Why Most Diets Don’t Work

LIFESTYLE CHANGES!  That is what is needed to make a “diet” work.  Most people try to lose weight, or “eat healthier” -whatever that means, or have more energy so they make several ridiculous changes and go on a “diet” for 3-12 weeks only to revert back to whatever they were doing previously when their will power runs out or their cravings win out.
When I counsel and talk to people about nutrition, I stress lifestyle changes.  Don’t make ridiculous, completely life-altering, and impossible dietary changes for a few weeks to lose 20 pounds then go back to eating what you really want to afterwards (and the weight comes back, and the energy goes down again, etc, etc).  If you have ever done the Atkins Diet, you know what I mean.
Instead, pick one or two things that are manageable and start doing them today.  MAKE THEM PERMANENT LIFESTYLE CHANGES.  And example of this would be- you normally drink a diet soda every day at 2 PM, make a lifestyle change that you are going to drink a soda twice a week instead of 5 or 6.  Or you normally eat boxed cereal or pop tarts for breakfast- make a lifestyle change that you are going to eat more good fats and proteins (nuts, yogurt, eggs) with more whole food carbohydrates (oatmeal, fruit) on 3-4 mornings a week.  Or you normally eat fast food every day, make a manageable lifestyle change to eat healthier alternatives like Subway or Chipotle and fast food only once or twice a week.
The goal here is not a drastic change of diet, but a manageable and measurable step in the right direction.  Keep doing this for a few years and you will be surprised at where you end up!