In reality diet is defined as the act of restricting your food intake (or your intake of particular foods) or to eat sparingly, for health reasons or to lose weight.  However, the word "diet" conjures up all sorts of things; deprivation, hunger and restrictions being just a few.

More often then not, when one discusses going on a diet, one becomes resigned to the fact that life will become unpleasant; meals will become bland and boring and eating won't be any fun.  The word "diet", just like all those other four-letter words, is whispered in a kind of hush.  It slips off one's tongue reluctantly.  It stirs up feelings of dread and doom and makes one feel defeated even before one starts.  What a shame; it doesn't have to carry so much weight or have so much power.  We, the people, need to take the reins and steer the course we intend on taking.

And while I believe that diet is a 4 letter word, I also think that the word "exercise" is just as daunting.  Personally I hate to exercise.  I know I need to move and to be active and I know that the more active I am, the more calories I will burn.  But tell me I have to exercise and I will swiftly head off in the other direction.  I don't want to diet and I really don't want to exercise.

That's okay, because I know how to move and I know how to eat.  Therein lies the secret of success. 

Because I have such an aversion to diet and exercise, when it came time for me to lose those unwanted pounds that had slowly crept on (seemingly from nowhere), I had to create a plan of my own.  My plan involves eating foods that are healthy for you and adding movement to everything you do.  The best part of my plan, though, is that it allows me to eat my very favorite foods.  I don't have to stop putting cream in my coffee, eating my favorite chocolate or having dessert.

When I finally gave in to the fact that I don't like to go to a gym, follow an exercise video or use some expensive fancy equipment, I was able to devise a personal plan that worked for me.  I strongly believe that it will work for everyone.  It is simple, user friendly and doesn't cost a thing!  The basis of the plan is easy; move more today than you did yesterday and give some attention to the foods you eat.  And eat in smaller portions; use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate, a dessert bowl instead of a soup bowl and eat one bite of that something you love instead of ten.  Make a conscious effort and you will see results.

First of all, any movement that you make, that is more than you made the day before, will contribute to the burning of calories.  Step it up a notch; move more and burn more.  You can exaggerate your movements as you go through your normal daily activities.  Whether it is doing household chores, going to get your mail from the box or watching T.V., there is a way to incorporate more movement.  And while you might start off slowly, the more you move, the easier it becomes.  And the easier it becomes, the more you move.  It becomes a vicious cycle, but one that is healthy for you and ends with the most positive of results.

When it comes to food, the first and most important necessity is to STOP EATING FAST FOODS and stop drinking sodas (drink lots of water instead)!  You can eat well, you can eat healthy and you can eat the things you love...in moderation.  I lost 45 pounds without starving myself or giving up any of the foods I find so appealing.  I was honest enough with myself to know that there were certain foods I didn't want to do without.  If it meant I had to move a little bit more, than so be it.

Now, while I found a way to incorporate more movement into everything I do, one secret to my success is dancing.  And I was doing it way before Kirstie Alley and Janet Jackson testified that they used dance to shed the pounds.  The secret is to put on music that you love and then dance your heart out.  When I'm home alone and there's no one there to see me make a fool out of myself, I rock the music and dance around the house like a crazy person.  It's fun and it works!

So, in closing I'd just like to say, if you banish that four-letter word (diet) from your vocabulary, eat well, but in moderation, drink lots of water and step up your movements, you can be successful at losing those unwanted pounds. 

Good luck!

Addie Scott is an Author and a Webmistress and has published numerous online articles.  She has just completed her newest ebook, A Smaller You, drawn from her own personal experiences.  For more information on this easy-to-use weight loss plan and guide to healthier eating, go to www.asmalleryou.com   While there, be sure to sign up for her FREE newsletter.