I have to emphasize that will power is more important to weight loss success than the particular diet or exercise you choose. One thing that helped me is that I chose not to actually go on a diet. What? How is that possible? A person can't just eat junk and lose weight! That is true! However, a diet is a term I don't like. Going on a diet is a mindset. Within the term itself go on a diet there is an implication that this is temporary.

Well, think about that: temporary solutions mean temporary results. Do you want to just get thin for a wedding and then go back to your old weight afterwards? No, of course not! You want the weight to stay off! Therefore, a diet is not the right thing for your weight loss. You need what I call: A FOOD PLAN! Select better foods and eliminate ones that are not good for you.

Here are a few examples of what I eat, and what I avoid!

SAY YES TO THESE FOODS:

Lots of Water

Celery

B Vitamins

Whole Grains (oatmeal, whole wheat bread, etc.)

Fruits and Vegetables (in moderation, watch the carbs in some of these!)

Green, Leafy Vegetables

Baked Chips (in moderation—watch sodium)

Salad (choose small amounts of low fat dressing or none!)

Fish and Chicken (NOT fried unless in olive oil, not battered)

Splenda Sweetener (instead of all sugar added to foods)

Spray Butter (Fat Free, Sodium Free)

Fat Free Dairy Products (Sour Cream, Milk)

Low Fat Cottage Cheese (the fat free cottage cheese is nasty)

Diet Soda or Small Amounts of Regular Soda (no soda is the best option)

Sugar Free Coffee Creamer

SAY NO TO THESE FOODS:

Fried Foods

High Carb Foods

High Sodium Foods

Corn Syrup

Hydrogenated Oils (most chips have this—it’s horrible for you!)

Fast Food

Adding salt to foods (you will get used to this after you try it for a while!)

Too much juice (especially juice made with corn syrup, that's not 100% real fruit juice)

Buffet trips (make two trips: one trip for a small amount of bad food, then get healthy food in the 2nd trip)