When people plan on dieting they are planning on what they can't have, a friend of mine is currently planning on starting a diet and is talking about all the things he/she won't be allowed to eat and will have to avoid while they are on a diet.
Now the first thing is they are now eating more of them before they start dieting, almost like a 'goodbye' to the food by having loads more of it, secondly while they are dieting they are going to have a sense of loss and will miss those foods, which then means if and when they finish the diet they will be looking forward to going straight back to those foods, but because they have been 'deprived' then they are likely to eat even more of them and watch the pounds come back on.
When I used to diet all the time it was all about what I wasn't allowed, I used to restrict calories one week, then go low carb for a week, then cut out anything with more than 5% fat, then cut out sugar etc etc. But every diet was based on negatives and restricting myself and to be frank it doesn't work when you stop dieting and try to maintain.
So instead think about what you can add to your life and your diet instead of all of those calories, now for me I was a real comfort and boredom eater so instead of needing comfort I dealt with my emotional issues and instead of being bored I took up hobbies and interests so I wasn't sitting around anymore.
Then when I came off my last ever diet (five years ago next week!) instead of NOT having things I tried new things instead, I now don't restrict what I eat at all, if I want chocolate, cake and cookies I will have them but I also love trying new foods and experiences and therefore I don't overeat anymore.
So can you honestly say when you diet you look for the things you can add or do you simply focus on what you can't eat ?
