First, you need to get the word "diet" out of your brain. Most people think of dieting as eating less, or doing without. It also implies a temporary change which you will eventually 'fall off the wagon' or simply return to 'normal eating'. Eating less and skipping meals to lose weight is a flawed dieting technique that robs your body of the vital nutrients it needs to function. Although a diet may accomplish your short term weight loss goals, 90-95% of people who lose weight with a "diet" are more likely to return to old eating habits and gain the weight back (and possibly more) within 3 to 5 years. To have permanent weight loss, you must make a lifestyle change in food choices, eating habits, and physical activity.

Many diets are not balanced which can not only affect your waistline, but moods, emotions, energy, and concentration levels. A healthy diet allows you to maintain a healthy weight by eating nutrient-dense foods from all the food groups and an adequate amount of water. Any diet that restricts your intake of any necessary nutrients too much will ultimately fail you. Drastically reducing calories can slow your metabolism and your body will become highly efficient at conserving calories and storing them as fat.