Atkins, Jenny Craig, and South Beach...O My!

Having the perfect body would be ideal, but one cannot get everything that they want.  However, if you are unhappy with your body, there are healthy alternatives to get into shape.  The most important is to be happy and healthy, as the worst thing you can do to your body is deprive it of food and the necessary nutrients.

There are many different types of diets available, in order to help you lose weight.  Dieting is not  a quick fix, as a lot of work is required from counting calories to working out.  An unhealthy alternative to losing weight would be to take diet pills, but that is something that doctors do not recommend.

Personally, I have taken part in the South Beach Diet, which is a three phase diet plan.  Phase 1 is two weeks long, with no carbs.  In the next two phases, carbs are reintroduced, but in moderation.  South Beach Diet's website offers shopping lists, recipes and tips to help you move through the three phases. With this diet and any others, exercise is a key element to achieving your weight loss goals.

Dining out at your favorite restaurant or grabbing a few drinks with friends can cause you to get off track, however there are ways to still enjoy it all, with sticking with your diet plan.  Allow yourself one cheat day a week, where you can indulge into something that may go against your diet, however do not eat and drink everything in sight!

Outdoor activities is a great way to burn calories and enjoy some fresh air.  Many household chores like mowing the yard or cleaning the house is another good way to work out.

 If you cannot afford a monthly gym membership, you can purchase a video game or DVD.  Since John has a Playstation 3, I work out using EA Sports Active 2 and Zumba!  These 'games' are available on all gaming counsels.

When you decide to diet, research all of your options and find the best one for you.  Ask friends if they have used any of the diets and find out what their experience was with each of them.  If possible, find a friend or relative, who will take part in dieting with you, as it is always good to have someone by your side motivating you.