Weight loss: is your diet destined for disaster?

Slimming shakes, fat burning fasting and weight loss wraps are just a selection of the exaggerated examples that promise to prevent us from piling on the pounds, yet despite the reality of these worrying weight loss methods resembling a bigger body and a beaten brain, we continue to convince ourselves that we 'need' a fad to fight the flab.

Before your desperation to drop a dress size triggers the temptation to turn to the latest trend in the world of weight loss, use this checklist to determine if your chosen 'diet' is destined for disaster...

1. Is it safe? The reality of unsafe weight loss solutions such as slimming shakes, strategic supplementation and the severe restriction of specific food (and drink) sources does not resemble a slender silhouette - it resembles hindered health, dietary deficiencies, uncontrollable cravings and an accumulation of additional weight the second that you return to real food.

2. Is it satisfying? Dedicating every ounce of energy to a diet that leaves you feeling famished and fatigued will not only see you struggling to sustain the self control to create sensible food swaps, but battling to banish the binges that lead to a bigger body.

3. Is it sustainable? If you're struggling to maintain the motivation to move more and consume less crap, you've already failed to create the small and sustainable lifestyle changes that lead to long-term health and happiness.

4. Is it sensible? If your plan (or product) promises to eliminate more than 2 lbs of excess weight a week and/or reiterates the words 'rapid results,' expect to experience an abundance of unsightly side effects including irritability, fatigue, excess skin and a body that fails to function on a physical and psychological scale (to name but a few!).

5. Is it stupid? Whether its a weight loss wrap that claims to banish a bloated belly or a dangerous diet pill that promises to drop a dress size, there are no magic wraps or miracle pills that will prevent you from piling on the pounds - it takes hard work, healthier habits and the motivation to move more.

6. Does your diet suit you psychologically? If your prescribed plan (or product) fails to pin point the core culprit/s responsible for your overconsumption of calories, you will not only religiously resort to your old regime, but create a vicious cycle of crash dieting due to your failure to tackle the underlying triggers that tempt you into hindering healthier habits.

Summary: although we would all love to wave a magic weight loss wand that tones our tummies, curbs our cravings and banishes our bingo wings, there is no short-term solution to a long-term psychological problem - unless we're stupid enough to sacrifice our health and sanity for the sake of dedicating the rest of our days to the diets and detoxes that do nothing but damage our determination, discipline and dress size!

Instead of succumbing to a speedy weight loss solution that provides nothing but fake promises, choose to eliminate excess weight in a way which is safe, satisfying and sustainable by committing to creating the change that resembles making sensible food swaps, and maintaining the motivation to move more and consume less crap.