Cut out all carbs… Consume only low-fat foods… Drink a shake for every meal… The number of ways to lose weight is endless, and many of them work for the time being. However, following a diet that’s not compatible with your lifestyle isn’t the most foolproof to keep those extra pounds off. An eating regimen that’s too restrictive or difficult to follow won’t be sustainable over a long period of time. In fact, you’re likely to fall back into your old eating habits, and pack on the pounds. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, find a plan that you can see yourself sticking to for life. Before you even begin a diet, take a few days to observe your own eating habits.

You may think you know what you’re eating, but keeping a food diary will help you understand not only how much you eat, but also when you eat. Taking stock of your current habits will help you decide how to make changes and how to decide on a plan that you can stick with. For example, if you notice that your current diet is heavy in one type of food, like pasta and bread, then it may be difficult to stick with a new plan that omits that type of food. Basically, any diet will work – but unless you make changes that you can stick with in the long-term, you’ll gain back the weight.