Are you so strict with your diet yet find yourself constantly cheating or binge eating? Have you eliminated so many foods from your diet that you're overeating the foods that you are allowing yourself to eat to fill the void? Is your diet so "healthy" that you reward yourself by eating junk for two days straight? Sometimes being too strict with your eating backfires on you and does more harm than good. Find out whether you fall into one of a handful of diet disaster personalities, how you're harming yourself, and what you can do to get back on track without making yourself crazy.

The Eliminator
Are you restricting wheat products, sugar, fruit, dairy, fat, and any other foods that might bloat you? Does your diet consists of a few types of proteins, baked potaotes, and a few veggies? Do you find yourself overeating the foods you are allowed and feeling bloated anyway?
Problem: Your body is not getting all the nutrients it needs because they are not available from the limited amounts of food you are allowing yourself. This causes your body to crave more food and it compromises all your fat burning systems so you eat more and you lose less weight.
Solution: Stop being such a food nazi. It's o.k. to eliminate really bad foods but most foods have some nutritional value and they also serve as fuel and provide energy. Try a little more variety in your diet. The more nutrients you have to work with the better your body functions and the more energy you have and calories you burn. You will also find that variety keeps it from getting boring which prevents overeating. Try adding a few healthier foods back into your diet and strive for balance at every meal.

The Counter
Are you obsessed with counting calories, points, meals, fat grams, carbs, sugar, and percentages? Are you more concerned about the number of calories a food has than the quality of that food? Are you choosing more processed food over healthier natural food because it is easier to count fat grams, carbs, etc? Are you constantly within your limits yet find yourself cheating or making excuses for going over your alloted amounts?
Problem: You're over-restricting, fat, and other necessary foods to the point that your body is lashing out at you with irripressible cravings. The few calories you do eat get stored as fat and the combination of both cheating and fat storarge makes you feel like you're out of control so you restrict more then you cheat more.
Solution: There's nothing wrong with tracking calories but maybe you need to re-calculate your ideal calorie intake and take your activity levels into consideration. Most women make the mistake of undereating by around 300-500 calories and this alone can wreak havoc on cravings and increase your body's ability to store fat and gain weight. Check out this cool calorie calculator and find out your ideal calorie intake. When it comes to carbs, fat, and protein, use the plate rule rather than percentages to keep it balanced. A 7" plate should be 1/4 protein, 1/4 complex carbs, and 1/2 veggies or fruit. The fat comes naturally so you don't have to worry too much about adding or subtracting it if your making good choices. It's that simple.

The Purist
Is your diet is so clean that you won't take a bite of mac & cheese even if your cute little five your old begs you to share with him? Do you eat so perfect all the time that you justify cheating for two days straight because you deserve it? Have you turned into such a food snob that you've resorted to eating only at home or at special restaurants even at the expense of spending time with family and friends?
Problem: Your super healthy eating causes you to feel entitled to eat more of those "healthy foods" and you also feel entitled to anything you want in outrageous amounts a few days of the week. So basically you're constantly back tracking. Doing really well then really bad and eratic eating usually results in stored fat and less weight loss. You're also so limited to your healthy food choices that you would rather skip a meal even if it hurts your metabolism and your relationships.
Solution: Eating super healthy is something we should all strive for but just because a label says "all natural", "organic", or "low-fat" doesn't mean that it's great for you. Try to venture out from your little bubble and include more real foods in your diet including that wrap from subway you've been wanting and that frozen yogurt your kids have been talking about. You'll find that the more you let loose (in moderation of course) the less likely you are to have those outrageous binge days and the more control you'll feel which is the key to losing weight.

Remember that there is no such thing as perfect eating or the perfect food. All food serves a purpose especially when it is eaten in the right amounts. Strive for progress and not perfection, aim for quality, and don't forget the secret of moderatation with less healthy foods. It all works together to help you lose more weight and feel more in control.

Get Off Your Wacky Diet and Back To Balanced Eating with: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Total Nutrition (3rd Edition)