The Secret

A very important secret to successful dieting is to keep it secret. Don't announce that you are on a diet. Don't tell anyone about your vows or goals or discoveries or miseries. If you must put your experience into words, write it down (I did, in this blog). But don't show anyone your writing until the end of your diet. If you join a formal weight loss program, they will know, but no one else. People at the gym or on the courts or in the pool will just think you are getting some exercise. If you don't talk about your diet, or explain your smaller portions, or try to convince others to join you, you will be left in peace. The diet can be done at varying levels of stealthiness, which you can adjust according to your situation.

Da Facts
Looking back, I wish I had gathered more of the facts about my body before I started my diet. It's best to face all the facts at the beginning of your diet. Then you will have comparisons to motivate you. Here's what I mean:

• Exact weight, on the scale you will use for your diet
• Body fat ratio---This is particularly helpful if you might be putting on muscle weight while losing fat weight. BMI (Body Mass Index) is not as helpful, but BMI is better than nothing.
• Measurements---height, bust/chest, waist, hips
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels
• Bone density
• Anything else you want to measure

Look at these numbers before you start and after you finish the diet. Pay no attention to them during the diet.

HARD TRUTHS
Along with facing the facts, here are some hard truths you should be aware of:

• Diet talk is boring to anyone who is not on a diet.
• Diets that are radically different from your regular eating usually don't work. You gain the weight back.
• Dieting for a specific outcome (to fit the dress, to get the guy/girl, to win a prize or a bet) usually doesn't work. You gain the weight back.
• Starving yourself usually doesn't work. Your body thinks you really are starving, so it holds onto fat. You don't lose weight. You might even gain weight.
• Some people want you to stay overweight. These people might include your dearly beloveds.
• True friends are supportive of your well being, including your health. They might say things you don't want to hear. Listen before rejecting what they say.
• Not everyone is your friend, even some of your friends.
• Habits are powerful. And comforting. And easy.
• Inertia is powerful. The longer you've been on the couch, the harder it is to get up.
• Weight comes on slowly, weight comes off slowly.