what's the best way to keep on track with a diet?

Because i love every type of food and my cravings always get the better of me, and i am fed up of it now, as i want a new lifestyle and me? HELP PLEASE

I, like you, LOVE every type of food!!!!!! I found that when I was trying to lose my weight, not only did logging the meals keep me on track but I also planned out every meal several days in advance. I never allowed anything to change my meal plan. Even when co-workers all went out to lunch, I kindly said "no thank you" and ate my prepped meal instead. I also made sure that I did not cut out any one particular food item so my cravings were not bad at all because my diet was balanced. I rarely ever sat down to relax after work because I found that sitting made me want to get back into the old habits of munching on all that yummy but high calorie food. Instead I would get out my exercise ball and sit on that and bounce up and down while watching TV at night. Kinda hard to eat while bouncing...lol

Good Luck!!! :-)

If you approach this as a lifestyle change and not a diet, it will help keep you on track! You don't have to give up the foods you love. You can simply learn to make them a healthier way, eat them less often than you do now and learn portion control!

My advice is blunt (I am a guy...sorry)

Clear your kitchen of the crap...anything and everything that has empty calories, high fat content, etc.

Get serious about your calorie counting...knowing what you are eating and what you have left will keep you more accountable

Exercise WILLPOWER! I know it sounds simple, but you have to want to be skinny more than you want to eat that piece of cake or that extra slice of pizza.

I cut out all refined sugar products (candy, cake, ice cream, etc etc) and once it was out of my system, I don't even crave it anymore. Now fatty foods still call to me like ghosts from the grave...still fight the urge to order pizza, eat fried chicken, or have Mexican...

Quite simply...ya gotta want the healthy lifestyle...

So it's alright if i have one treat day in the week , but not go overboard with it?

Yes but it's not an entire treat day, more like a treat meal! You look forward to it all week and work hard to stay on track and then you reward yourself. I would also cut out alcohol (if you drink it now). Just for a whort while. It's empty calories and will make a huge difference. That was the first thing I cut and boy did it help.

I have used this too keep track but then i will get these big urges and go raiding the cuboards , feel guilty. I never learn my lesson but i cant get put off by fatty foods haha, but i think i will do the food diary. Thankyou ! x

You need to look at it as a lifestyle change - not a quick fix.

I find that logging my food IN ADVANCE really helps.

So I plan what I am going to eat a few days in advance and shop accordingly.

I try not to deny myself anything as that is what makes you likely to binge but I do make healthy substitutions where I can.

A few examples are I now drink vodka & diet cokes as opposed to wine (I have also cut back drinking as often though - I drink maybe one night a week now and only moderately)

I wont give up carbs altogether but I do make sure I opt for the best carbs (wholewheat pasta, new potatoes and oven chips) are all pretty good. But I do weigh my portions.

Moderation is key, do not see this as 'giving up' foods you like - you are simply building a new relationship with food!

For me, a look at my family, how overweight and unhealthy they are, what they're eating, how much they're eating, etc. and I just don't wanna be like them. It's a sad motivation.

Also, I mess up every now and then. I crave something bad, I get it, I eat it. I realize how bad I feel afterwards, not guilt-wise but physically - I feel sluggish when doing normal activities and when exercising, sometimes I get nauseous, my digestive track is off, I get stomaches, etc. I hold on to this feeling when I think about overindulging again. Never deprive yourself, but moderation is key.