To win at weight loss

to win at weight loss, try, try again. "It takes multiple attempts," says Diane Berry, Ph.D., author of a Yale School of Nursing study of 18 women who had lost 10 percent of their body weight and maintained the loss for at least one year. "No one in my study lost weight and kept it off the first time around. If you get off base, forgive yourself, and get back on track instead of giving yourself permission to start overeating."

To shed pounds for good, she says, forgo fad diets and opt for tried-and-true tactics: working out for 30 minutes daily, filling half your plate with vegetables, choosing whole grains, and identifying foods you tend to overeat. "If you usually overindulge with Cheetos, buy a single-portion container instead of keeping a big bag in your kitchen," Berry suggests. "The key to maintaining weight loss is learning new skills, such as being aware of trigger foods and keeping portion control in check. It's all about finding a new sense of balance in your life."

COPYRIGHT 2004 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group