#1: CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN!
Dieting is more than just losing weight – it is also important for better health. But this doesn’t mean all diets are healthy! While the diet plan I follow is healthy, it doesn’t mean my diet is right for everybody. There could be many other underlying conditions to the reasons you may feel tired, depressed, or overeat. You could have a thyroid disorder or even undiagnosed diabetes. Simple blood tests can help diagnose these problems and if there is a disorder that needs treated it will be easier to lose weight with treatment of underlying disorders. I am not a physician and every person’s body is different. Talk to a doctor, even if you think you are healthy.

2. Record Your Eating Habits: Take note of everything you eat for one entire week. While this chore may seem tedious, after a day or two it will be much easier. Make sure you write down the time, how you feel, and the portion size and the food. It doesn’t matter what it is – if you ate the crust from your son’s peanut butter sandwich – write it down! Make sure to also include any beverages, including alcoholic beverages, in the list. To help you record your eating habits, we’ve created an easy printable record chart for you to use. To download the free diet printable, click here.

3. Learn Your Healthy Weight Range: Just as it is possible to be over weight, it’s equally possible to be under weight. Be sure to check what the healthy weight range is for your height. Health A-Z has an easy calculator you can use here.

4. Assess Your Activity Level: If you spend most of your day in an office cubicle, it may not be wise to jump out and start a two hour workout session. Think about what activities you do each day that increase your heart rate – walking up stairs, standing for long periods of time, doing household chores, gardening, mowing the grass, etc. are all examples of activity.

5. Analyze Past Diet Failures: If you’ve gone a diet before, it’s a good idea to think back to those failed attempts before starting a new diet to see what previous mistakes you’ve made so you can choose a new weight loss plan that will actually work and not lead you into the same pitfalls as before. Maybe you couldn’t resist a late night snack or couldn’t find the weight loss motivation to exercise.

After you take some time to consider these things before you start your diet, you will be able to choose and create the right weight plan for you.