How To Lose Weight Naturally and Effectively

Many of us want to lose weight.  Many of us have tried.  Unfortunately many of us have failed.  Well, we're just not gonna take failure anymore, are we?
We've got to get back to healthy weight loss eating.  There are natural ways to lose weight out there to be found.
Believe me, like you I've had my share of diets that don't work, quick diets, overnight diets, college diets, vegetarian diets, grapefruit diets.  Oh yeah, and then there's the ones my friends and family have tried. They have all kinds of names.  There's the diet where you drink a shake and lie to yourself that you feel full and satisfied.  Yeah, right.  Then there's the "buy our expensive food and eat only that to lose weight" plans out there.
 I've seen myself and others lose weight on some of these diets.  But the weight never stayed off.  So then you go to the next diet, and the next diet.  Every time we do that, we lose more muscle tone and gain back more fat.  Yuck!.  But the reasons these diets don't work aren't YOU. There is plenty of inaccurate data going around the weight loss industry and many of us trying to lose weight have fallen victim to such myths. 
We've all heard the hype.  "avoid starches" has been perpetuated by the most famous high protein diets-the Atkins diet, South beach and a whole lot of other popular diets that promotes a diet rich in protein and low in carbohydrates.
There's the "genetics in the biggest factor" theory.  Well, let's face it, to a certain extent, genetics do play a role in determining your metabolic rate, but this doesn't mean your fate is sealed if you have obese parents and grandparents. 
How about this one?  "Fat is to be avoided."  The key to effective fat control is cutting down on dangerous fats while increasing your intake of good fats.
 "Skipping meals" is probably one of the worst pieces of advice you should ever take.  Every time you skip a meal your body learns to store fat better in preparation for your fasting through another meal. 
The most important factor in determining your success in any weight loss program is the number of calories you eat and the amount of physical activity you get in a single day. 
So I say it's time to get back to using common sense and setting realistic goals around diets that don't leave us feeling failed and deprived.   That means doing your research and finding the diet that works for YOU.   A workable, doable diet that allows you to win at losing weight needs to be one that allows you to eat what you enjoy eating.  Yes, you can certainly learn to appreciate healthy eating by adding healthier foods to your diet, and eating less of the not-so-good foods.  But, that doesn't mean denying yourself the enjoyment you get from eating some of your favorite foods in moderation.
Stop setting yourself up for the fall.  Stop buying into the hype surrounding so many flashy diet programs.  Stop expecting unrealistic methods to work permanently.  Start setting goals that align with what YOU enjoy eating using a sensible diet plan that you can live with for life!  Here's to your success.  I know you'll lose weight in a healthy way and be able to stay that way.