Diet. The dreaded "D" word. No wonder it's a four-letter word. We've all done it. We've failed, and went back to punishing ourselves all over again. Ladies, I'm just going to tell it to you straight. Dieting DOES NOT work. I don't care who says it does, it does not. I have learned to use the word "diet" in its proper context: the way people eat. My diet consists of whatever I like, but in sensible portions. Why deny yourself the things you enjoy? It leads to a huge binge and that is definitely not what we want to do.

Why do we deny ourselves the things we like?

I can't see just sitting around eating fruits and vegetables all the time to lose weight unless that is what you really like to eat. I grew up eating fried foods, meats, potatoes, and way too much junk. I stayed fit with all of the exercise I got in my younger years. As time progressed, I could not manage my weight as well. I was eating less junk food, in fact, I was denying myself many of the things I enjoyed. I still gained weight. After learning the true nature of my body and how to maintain it, I realized I can eat the food I enjoy, but I have to exercise.

Now there's a time limit to when it's safe to eat?

How many of us have heard, "do not eat after 8 PM." ? I have heard that so many times. This statement is ignorant. What difference does it make what time we eat? A calorie is a calorie no matter what time we ingest it. This rule does not work for my family. My husband works later and if we want to eat as a family a few times per week, we must wait until 8 or after. The kids eat earlier so they can go to bed on time, but I do wait occasionally until my husband gets home.