Food and Nutrition Services

If you're like many Americans, January 1 usually starts with a promise to lose weight. Did you try the "short term quick fix" and become frustrated, unsatisfied, hungry and crabby? Have you thrown in the towel and reverted to your old eating habits? Has the weight returned? If this scenario sounds familiar, you're not alone. Just remember it's not too late to start on a healthier track.

In order to begin a healthy weight loss regimen, one very important step is to NOT view your effort as a diet. D-I-E-T, a four-letter word, implies short term, usually unsuccessful with negative, and sometimes very angry feelings. Instead, focus your efforts for a healthier lifestyle.

Look at these new efforts as just that, new. Viewing past attempts as failures will set you up for another failure. Past attempts give the knowledge of what did and did not work. Use your past experience(s) to develop a new plan. When developing your plan, realize you will go through feelings of deprivation. It's living through these feelings, without indulging, that can make your new attempt a stronger one and increase your success.

Establish short term and realistic goals. To lose ten pounds in one week and to keep it off is not realistic. It is not achievable, and failure is pending. Short term goals are a better chance to feel successful. Remember, short terms goals also apply to lifestyle changes.

You may encounter situations where you will want, or feel the need to, indulge. By planning, you can have that extra indulgence and still remain within your eating goals it is difficult yet it can be done.

Check your expectations. If you set yourself up with the rules of NEVER indulging or having foods you really enjoy, then you will fail. Eating is very social.

Exercise is an important component of healthy lifestyles and any weight loss plan. If you're not currently involved in an exercise regimen, it is best to discuss this action with your physician first. No matter what your physical limitations may be, there are exercise programs available.

Making changes in your lifestyle is difficult. A Registered Dietitian is a health professional who can assist you in making these healthy changes. If you are interested in talking with a Registered Dietitian, please call Marquette General Health System, Department of Dietetics at (906) 225-3221 or toll-free 1-800-562-9753, extension 3221 and ask to set up an individualized nutrition plan with the Outpatient Dietitian.