By Pat Barone
www.patbarone.com
10 Reasons Diets Fail

For every 100 dieters, one will maintain their weight loss after 5 years, which is the marker determining permanent weight loss to the medical community. Research indicates diets actually add pounds in the long run.

Why are diets so destructive to our weight and health? Here are some of the reasons.

1. Severe food restriction causes real hunger.

It's a fact that most diets last less than 72 hours. Hunger is a basic human urge. Man continues to survive (and has for thousands of years) because of the ability to cope with famine and scarcity of food. Hunger has been the powerful motivator for that survival.

2. A diet is an artificial plan which is different from your lifestyle.

Your new diet book has pages and pages of special recipes but you don't like to cook. Your diet says you must prepare all your food, but your job requires you to entertain clients. Only you can set the boundaries around eating and make them work within your lifestyle.

3. A diet is a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

The diet industry makes billions (yes! over $42 billion a year) by convincing people to follow a diet for a few weeks or months to solve lifelong problems of emotional eating, eating for the wrong reasons or eating food that is nutrition-less. Once a diet ends, the weight comes back because the problems and behaviors are still there. Maybe you squeezed yourself into the bridesmaid's dress in time for the wedding, but you still have the rest of your life ahead of you.

A first step toward success is to accept that there is no free ride. If you lose weight on a strict diet, you will always pay for it later.

www.nj.com
By MEG NUGENT
Top 10 aging myths

The U.S. had a record 4.3 million births in 1957, which translates into a big bunch of baby boomers who are facing their 50th birthdays this year.

If you're thinking this is the beginning of the end when it comes to your enjoyment of good health, you're buying into misconceptions about the aging process.

Here are our Top 10 myths about your body and aging:

You're going to lose your mental faculties.

First, the sobering news: Nearly half of all Americans over 85 suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Now, the encouraging news: There are things you can do to minimize your chances of losing big chunks of your brain power as you age.

Start with what you've been putting in your mouth. Several studies published in the Archives of Neurology and other medical journals determined people who consume foods high in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol have at least double the risk of developing Alzheimer's in the future.

Try to focus more on foods that are plant-based, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. These foods will supply your body with lots of fiber and antioxidants, which help to keep your arteries unclogged and ready to deliver an abundant supply of blood to the brain.