In a way, dieting is something we do all the time. We all eat a diet of food. Yet somehow in our culture, "diet" now means 'good' for a limited amount of time so we can lose weight. The concept of being "good" for a brief time to make up for bad eating habits the rest of the year might help you lose a few pounds, but it won't make you healthy. Your best bet with dieting is to try to eat healthfully all the time.

When Should You Diet?
Unfortunately, women today are often pressured to measure up to a certain body type so they "diet' to achieve that goal. But there are many body types and some people might have bigger shapes just because they're built that way.

Just think of it in nature. Some cats are naturally skinny, some are husky, and some are heavier. Different builds and body types in animal are natural. And it's the same with people. Each person has an ideal, individual weight range where they are still healthy. That range could be higher or lower, depending on the person. So just because you don't look like the skinny actress on the cover of an entertainment magazine, don't worry. And don't go crazy dieting.

Sometimes going on a diet can really help you -- if you're overweight and need to lose pounds, for example. More than 1 of every 3 American adults is considered to have an unhealthy weight. Because of these excess pounds, they are more susceptible to disease. So being very overweight can be unhealthy, and is a good reason to "diet."

But a diet shouldn't be a short-term thing.  Healthy eating is a lifetime practice that'll help you lose weight, make you feel better and remove that "brain-fog" associated with high-fat, high-sugar foods.

How to diet
The best way to become healthy is to use common sense. Losing weight happens when you take in fewer calories. Regular exercise also helps burn calories as you tone and strengthen your muscles. If you want to lose weight, go for a program where you can lose the pounds slowly - no more than two a week. If you're really concerned about you weight, and think that you might be unhealthy or at risk for illness, see your health care provider for a healthy food plan.

There are a million different diets on the market.  But the best way to diet is to eat in a balanced way. Avoid diets that eliminate entire food categories like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. You need foods in all of these categories to be healthy.

FYI - Starving yourself may give you quick weight loss results, but in effect you are setting yourself up for a quick return of your weight, plus more! When you starve yourself your body thinks you're in a life-threatening situation and lowers your metabolism to conserve energy. A lower metabolism burns few calories...so when you start eating normally again, you gain back your weight along with some extra pounds! Do it right.