The Perfect Diet

"Be warned, my son, Of making many books there is no end and much study wearies the body." Eccl. 12:12

We are bombarded everyday in magazines, internet, TV, and newspapers. They all have the perfect solution to weight loss management.

These are just a few of the diets that I have studied for the past month: Weight Watchers, The Zone, Atkins Diet, Low-Fat Diet, No-Fat Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, Eat Great, Lose Weight, Sugar Busters, Carbohydrate Addictís Diet, Eat More, Weigh Less, Fit for Life, Slim Fast and Optifast.

Well, out of all this research and study, I have come to one profound conclusion -- There is no perfect diet. They can all work and they can all fail. Ultimately, it comes down to one thing and one thing only - YOU!

Somewhere deep inside of you, there is the strength and will to lose weight. You are the one who has to find the strength to just.. DO IT! You are the one who must discover what it is that is keeping the real you trapped in an overweight body. At one time, I was trapped. Fear was ruling my life; fear of failure, fear of ridicule, even fear of success. But, one day I realized that fear was not trusting in myself and not trusting in my God. I had to put away my fear and when I accomplished that, the weight loss started.

Now, on a more practical side, Any diet that allows only one or two types of foods is not balanced. In my humble opinion - Balance is truly the key to weight loss and good health. There are some that do well on more protein and there are some that do well by staying with the complex carbohydrates. Then there are those that do well with a balance of both.

No one benefits from refined carbohydrates.. white sugar and white flour. Work on getting them out of your diet. Also, plan a diet program that fits your needs and schedule. Everyone is different. We donít all fit in the same mold -- thank goodness.

Tailor a program that you can succeed with. If you are not hungry in the mornings, donít eat or only have fruit. If mornings are a time you truly feel the need for something more solid, have an egg and whole grain toast. Maybe light evening fruit meals are more your style. Your chance of success improves greatly when you are comfortable and at ease with your diet program.

One more thing - We as a nation eat too much. "Quantity always outweighs quality". The best way to accomplish the task of eating just enough is this.. Eat only when hungry and stop when full. If you start eating before you are truly hungry, you will never feel the full sensation. And I have found, the more weight you have to lose the quicker the full feeling will come. Watch for it and stop eating! Last but certainly not least, Stop concentrating so hard on losing weight and start enjoying life. Enjoy where you are on the way to where youíre going. Donít let your weight interfere with finding joy in life. Find some way to bless someone else. For in giving, you will always receive the benefit.

In conclusion, realize that no one has a magic pill or answer. I have learned, through this study, to ask myself - "Who am I to tell someone else what he or she should or shouldnít be eating." I can teach what affect certain foods have on the body. I can help lead someone to what diet is good for him or her. I can encourage, motivate and lend a listening ear when needed. But, I can no longer in good conscious, tell others what they should or should not be eating. And, I wonít.

Weight loss is a very personal journey. You are the one who must decide: