Is it just me or does it seem like everywhere you look someone is trying to get you to sign up or join one weight loss program or another? It seems like every time I’m scrolling through Facebook or oogling over Pinterest, I’m assaulted with one weight loss program or another.

I’ve been doing everything I can to try to avoid these. Which has been pretty hard because a few of my friends have been pushing pretty hard to get me to try their magic health plan. I even had a family member who was on one of the plans. My family member didn’t push it quite so hard, but did still want to talk about it.

I have a hard time with most of these plans because they either require special pills, severe calorie restriction, replacing a meal with a shake, or cutting a whole entire food group out of your life. Most of these plans are expensive too.

It makes sense that people see results with these plans. The severe calorie restriction will cause weight loss. The replacing a meal with a pill or shake will also cause weight loss because it, too, is calorie restriction. Cutting out an entire food group, especially the food group that contains wheat, breads and grains will also cause weight loss because most of the meals we American’s eat have this food group in it.

I also can’t go on a crazy diet because I’m a mother I have to cook for my family. So, if I want to go on a crazy diet, then I have to make two separate meals, one for me and one for my family. I don’t have the time and even if I did, don’t want to waste my time doing that.

You might be saying, well just put your kids on the diet too, but I know my kids and they don’t want to eat salad and chicken breasts seven nights a week. Not to mention the fact that my husband would flat out refuse to do it. He’s a man, he needs steak and potatoes. I also couldn’t drink a shake instead of a meal. If I am cooking, I’m going to want to eat what I’m cooking, not watch everyone else enjoy food while I choke down a chalky protein shake.

What ever happened to good old fashioned exercise and healthy eating in moderation? Why is everyone looking for a miracle or an easy way out? Are we all that busy, that lazy, or that desperate? I don’t know about you but this time tested formula has always worked for me.

No, it doesn’t give instant results, but it does give you results. It also takes will power. Some days I want to eat the entire pan of brownies, but I choose to eat just one. You can eat anything you want on this plan, you just can’t eat as much of it as you would like and you can’t eat junk food all the time, but every now and then won’t hurt.

Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of the University of Montana, animal lover and writer.

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