Fad Diet? No, Thanks. Lifestyle Change? Yes, Please!

I knew when I started this weight loss I didn't want to do any special fad kind of diet. I needed a lifestyle change. I needed to change how I ate, how much I ate, and needed to exercise. I knew if I restricted myself to only certain foods, it wasn't going to last. If I was going to rely on packaged meals, shakes, bars, etc., it wasn't going to last. I needed to eat the foods I regularly eat if I was going to keep this up. I read this one weight loss book called "The Skinny" that was about how to diet without going hungry. Much what the author said made sense. Especially if you limit yourself and/or have a cheat day then you will begin to idealize food and will start to crave it and possibly binge. With that in mind, I decided I wasn't going to limit myself and feel bad if I had an occasional candy bar or hamburger here or there. I would know that I was good on my weekly calories (I don't count daily calories, counting weekly makes it easier to stay motivated) so the occasional indulgence will be fine but I won't have a specific cheat/treat day.