Not Giving Up
Many people who realize their eating habits have brought them nothing but excess weight will suddenly decide on a radical new diet plan, but these often fail within just a few weeks. Making changes to a healthier life is about sustainability in a good diet, and no one should push to make all the adjustments at one time. Not giving up an afternoon snack that is unhealthy can actually help them stick with their other choices that will lead them to a better life.
Eating is often a habit with people who love foods that are not quite as healthy as they should be, so their goal should be to change their habits instead of their food. Many of those who are overweight actually like healthy foods, but they find preparing them takes too much time. The habit they need to change is opening up something easy and trading it for something that takes more time but has fewer empty calories.
Sustainability is important when losing excess weight and keeping it off is the goal, so doing a radical change is always more work than it needs to be. When a person chooses to give up an unhealthy meal, they need to consider how long it will be before their deprivation drives them back to their regular diet. If they feel they are only making small changes, then they are more likely to stick with their plan until they ultimately reach their goal.
Diets should not be completely restrictive unless a person is under the direct supervision of a professional. For those who are making the choice without consultation, small changes over time will yield a better lifestyle in the end. Being able to change over time instead of immediate radical changes will give their system a chance to feel good as they eat healthier foods prepared correctly.