How to Overcome Yo-Yo Dieting

If you repeatedly lose weight and gain it right back due to excessive dieting, you might be a yo-yo dieter. It's a vicious cycle that can seem impossible to break. Fortunately, there are some techniques to overcome yo-yo dieting for good.

Instructions

• 1

  Avoid fad diets. Diets that claim easy weight loss through laxatives, pills or unbalanced foods choices are not healthy and are not good for long-term weight loss. Once you've lost the weight, you are likely to go back to your old eating habits because fad diets don't teach you how to eat sensibly. A better strategy is to eat foods that are nutritious, but that also keep you full, such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains.

• 2

  Add one or two healthy healthy behaviors to your regular routine every day. If you focus on realistic lifestyle changes, you will be more successful in losing weight than if you attempt a strict diet. Try to have only one helping at dinner instead of two, or walk your dog every morning for 30 minutes.

• 3

  Keep a diet journal. Write down everything you eat and how much you exercise each day. If you ate something unhealthy or skipped a workout, write it down. This will help you stay focused and help you make better choices the next day.

• 4

  Decide if there are any underlying emotional problems that cause you to yo-yo diet. Consider the life events that coincided with weight gains or losses, such as a death in the family or a job loss. Consider speaking to a therapist about any emotional problems.