City Chick Magazine

The real weight loss secret of the stars‏
You may have seen the photos of celebrities splashed across the latest tabloids. One month after being a complete train wreck, the latest diva to take a fall from grace lost 15 lbs. and looks fantastic followed by an article on their diet secrets touting a new miracle food. The secret is not in what they did, it is in the how. And how did they do it? They have "people". In other words, they had a support network of people in place to help them every step along the way and so can you without hiring a team of experts. Having a support structure when trying to lose weight is vital to your success. A recent clinical study by Brown University found that dieters who have a structured support program and network were three times more likely to lose weight than those who simply went at it alone. Success was primarily due to the network providing support that a dieter cannot normally could not provide on their own. Benefits of having a support network can be encouragement to maintain a positive mental attitude, motivation, accountability, and professional know-how. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that we all should go out and hire a team comprised of a personal trainer, a personal dietician, a life coach, and a chef to help us with our weight loss; there are other more economical ways to gain the benefits of this type of professional team without the expense. We start with building a support network that can properly motivate you. The first thing is to examine the reasons why you are trying to lose weight. If you have goals that are more external focused, such as "losing weight to be a good example for my kids" you are less likely to abandon your efforts since you feel you are letting others down. Recruiting family and friends to your cause is the next step. Go over with them your goals and your expectations and their responsibilities to you to help you. Obtaining professional know how may not be as expensive as you think. With the growth of the internet, many services provide online weight loss programs with registered dieticians and nutritionist at a fraction of the cost of face to face programs. Brianna Collins, registered dietician, notes that seeing clients online can be just as effective as seeing them in person: "The online environment is much more convenient for some people who would normally not have access to a dietician. I might see a person once every two weeks in person, but I can touch that same person 3 or 4 times a day via email and I can review food diaries every night to see how they are doing daily rather than waiting for our next appointment." Accountability and encouragement can be developed by engaging in online message boards and getting a "diet buddy", another dieter who can help you on a one to one basis. The more you participate in these forums, the more likely you are to stay accountable since you will foster relationships and you will believe that backsliding will let your diet buddies down. If you still find yourself needing help after these low costs methods, it is then time to make a decision to invest in yourself and pay for a professional team. But first try these methods to determine how much support you really need without breaking the bank. Who knows, having "people" like celebrities can be just the difference you are looking for.

- Barry Sanders

About the author: Barry Sanders is a free lance journalist and author of The Diet Smart Plan. His practical weight loss articles have recently appeared in national publications such as Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Cooking Light. You can find out more about The Diet Smart Plan at www.thedietsmartplan.com.

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