Most of us tend to avoid anything that’s very difficult or challenging, simply because we often don’t feel like we have the energy and stamina to keep pushing against the resistance the obstacles create in our path through life.  Diets are no different – how many times have you started a diet and eventually quit?

Whether you quit within a few days, or you’re one of the rare few who managed to hang in there for a substantial length of time, the fact remains that you are just as susceptible to defeat as the rest of us.

Below are a few common diet obstacles, along with some tips for effectively overcoming them:

- Boredom

Sometimes the food choices allowed on diet plans are . . . less than inspiring.  Who wants to eat nothing but fruit, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains?  Not that those foods taste terrible; they’re just not very exciting.  This is especially true if you’ve been following the same plan for several months or even years – you start craving something different!

Overcoming boredom is as simple as hunting down some new and exciting recipes to stimulate your taste buds.  The internet is a wonderful resource for that.  Simply hop onto your favorite search engine website, and do a search for “healthy recipes,” “healthy meal plans,” “diet recipes,” “low calorie meals” or something similar (if you’re following a specific plan like a low-carb diet, you can include that in the search string.

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You hear people talking about “sugar addiction” frequently, but is it really possible to be addicted to sugar in the same way that you can become addicted to drugs or alcohol?  There is still some debate about whether sugar fits neatly into the category of addictive substance, but if you look closely at the definition of “addiction”, the issue becomes a little clearer:

One definition of addiction is:  a compulsive need for and dependence upon a habit-forming substance, accompanied by clearly defined symptoms upon withdrawal.

Anyone who has ever tried to reduce their sugar intake can attest to the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that ensue.  The question is whether sugar can be considered a “habit-forming substance” – that’s the point upon which experts are still debating.

Semantics aside, there is a secondary definition of addiction, and that is:  persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful.

We know that ingesting large amounts of sugar is harmful.  Dozens of studies have clearly shown the detrimental impact that white, refined sugar has upon our bodies – yet some of us compulsively ingest more of it than we should.  You are free to draw your own conclusions, but to me that’s a clear sign of an addiction.

You may be ingesting too much sugar if you experience any of these symptoms:

- Nervousness and excitability

After eating or drinking something sweet, do you experience a “high” that makes you feel jittery, euphoric, restless or jumpy?  Children especially seem to be sensitive to the mood-altering effects of sugar, but many adults are too.

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There are good and bad times to start a diet or fitness program.  The most common times seem to be right after the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year holiday season, and right before Summer – but even beyond considering the time of year, there are other times that starting a new diet may not be the best idea.

- When you are very stressed.

When you’re stressed by a hectic work schedule, your daughter is getting married in a few weeks, or you’re packing up an entire household to move, sticking to a new eating or fitness plan will be almost impossible.  A new lifestyle change like a diet or workout regime requires concentration, focus and commitment, which you may have a hard time summoning when your mind is distracted by other important tasks.

- When you are sick.

Dieting shouldn’t cause any major problems if you have a simple head or chest cold, but when you’re not feeling well you may not be as motivated to count calories or stick to a strict eating plan.  Besides, feeling a bit under the weather triggers all kinds of cravings for “comfort foods” and you’ll be fighting an inner battle with them when you should be focusing your energy on getting better.

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