I don't' need a diet, I'll just eat less.....It seems logical to assume that you'll automatically lose weight if you under eat, but it's simply not true. Think of your body as a machine: When you cut down on the fuel it needs to operate, it runs more slowly; likewise, when you cut down on food, the body slows its metabolism and you burn fewer calories. Furthermore, studies show that when dieters consume fewer than 1,200 calories daily, they'll lose muscle tissue as well as fat. (Muscle weighs more than fat, but it's more compact.) Therefore, even though your scale may register weight loss, you may actually be fatter, because the percentage of muscle in the body decreases and the percentage of fat increases.

I can diet alone.....Most people talk about Dieting far more often than they do it. Even if you know the appropriate foods and quantities, it's not easy to stick to a diet without someone cheering you on. You're likely to wake up every morning promising yourself to eat according to plan, only to break that promise during the day. Why not join a diet support group or form your own? If you make a promise to your group, your family and yourself, you'll get the encouragement you'll need.

Never eat between meals.....In fact, dietitians strongly recommend eating low-cal munchies such as cucumbers, carrot sticks, defatted soups and rice cakes to tide you over until your next meal. So, if you're a snacker, bring a bag of cut-up veggies to the office to fend off the temptation of the candy machine.

I can eat everything I want.....Just less of it. It seems logical to think that by reducing the amount of food you usually eat you'll shed pounds. But you might be better off eating more of high-fiber, low-fat foods. The reason? The people most concerned about losing weight are usually the same people who like to eat; consequently, smaller portions will not be satisfying. This eating plan allows you to indulge your desire for large portions.