Give Yourself a Diet Mentality Makeover
By Janis Jibrin, R.D., Best Life lead nutritionist

"I just blew my diet, so I might as well splurge."

"This is my last week to really enjoy eating. I'm going to start dieting next week."

"I've been so bad, I just can't get back on track."

Do any of these sound familiar? You're either on or off a diet; you're being bad or good. This black-and-white thinking can derail your weight-loss efforts and turn a little slip into a major free fall of eating. But it doesn't have to be this way! If you learn to slightly adjust your diet mentality, you can survive the occasional setback. The next time you get a little off track, remember that:

• Slip-ups are inevitable. Weight loss is a process, just like raising kids or advancing in your career. Some days you're good at these things, other days you're not. But one bad encounter with your child or with your boss doesn't mean you throw up your hands and quit. It's the same with losing weight. Eating healthfully and getting enough exercise is a life-long pursuit, so cut yourself some slack for those less-than-perfect moments.

• Eating healthfully is your choice. Remind yourself that you are exercising your free will when you choose broccoli sauteed in garlic over French fries or raspberries topped with dollop of vanilla yogurt instead of raspberry chocolate cake. (Notice, the healthy choices are anything but boring and tasteless!)• Small weight gains are easier to reverse than large ones. If you overdo it for a day or two and put on a pound, you'll be able to lose that weight pretty easily. But, if you give up and eat your way back to your old weight, you'll have a heck of a time losing it all again.

• You're responsible for your health. The decisions you make should be your own, and you should accept ownership for them. For example, saying "My kids drive me to binge" or "Bob Greene says I should exercise three times a week" won't work. Instead, put the power in your own hands. You take charge and you make the decisions. Then, you get to enjoy the results of...

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