In my 9th week of the Best Life Diet, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that being realistic is critical to achieving any long-term success in weight loss. Though it seems against our nature as dieters (optimism is a huge driver to begin a weight loss program)…it is the key to longevity in any program.

I am happy that I’ve lost 10 pounds but honestly, I thought (at the beginning of the program) I would have lost more by now and would have about 15 pounds off by the end the 2nd month. Even though Bob Greene and all the experts say to expect about a pound loss per week for the beginning stages, I thought those rules really didn’t apply to MY body and I would show everyone how I did better than the average. Well…I actually did about average. No big deal. But why is there a teeny shred of disappointment in me right now? Because I set my targets too high…and was not as mentally and emotionally realistic as I needed to be.

So if there is one piece of advice I’d give after experiencing 2 months of the Best Life Diet, and drawing upon my life-long career of dieting, it would be that as soon as you are honest with yourself and what is really attainable and sustainable, you will stay in the vicious diet spiral.

I’m looking forward to more weight loss…but I will take what I can get when it happens!