There are many reasons that DIET is known as a four letter word.  One of them being most people try to give up their favorite food completely.  But that is a bad idea, if you deny yourself your favorite indulgence over and over again, you are likely to binge on that food and go overboard.  Instead of depriving yourself of your favorite food, figure out how to create some boundaries.

Here are a few ideas:

• Cookies — don't buy a package of Chips Ahoy cookies, buy ONE fresh baked one from your local bakery.  The quality of the fresh baked cookie is bound to be better than mass produced cookies that have been sitting on the grocery shelf for who knows how long.
• Pizza — pick up ONE slice of pizza instead of ordering an entire pie.  Sit down and really savor that slice of pizza and don't be embarrassed to soak up the grease with a napkin.
• Candy — visit the bulk section of the grocery store and only buy a small portion of your favorite candy.  Three malt balls will satisfy your craving and do a lot less damage than a bag of Whoppers.

Remember if the box of cookies, the entire pizza, or the Snickers is not in your house, you cannot eat them.

I have been posting about celeb moms and their slim down secrets.  It is interesting to get a glimpse into the celebrity world, especially if you have dealt with working off the pounds that accompanied your nine month journey to motherhood.  I do, however, want to provide a little reality check:  these women have resources that regular, normal, non-celeb moms do not.  I am talking about nannies, personal chefs, personal trainers as well as a lot of external pressure to "tighten up".

It is not a good idea to go on a severely calorie restricted diet, especially if the new mom is breastfeeding.  Cutting back on calories means the loss of significant nutrients for the mother and the baby.  For some women, breastfeeding actually can help take off some baby weight.  A lactating mom needs at least 1800 – 2000 calories a day.  Plus cutting back on food can make a new, sleep deprived mom cranky, and cranky is not what you want to be when facing the unique challenges of tending to a newborn.

Exercise, on the other hand is highly recommended.  Not only will it help new moms lose weight, it can help ward off postpartum depression.  It is key to remember that exercise should make you feel better not worse, and it always a good idea to check with your OB before beginning a postpartum exercise program, especially if you had a difficult pregnancy, delivery, or a C-section.  I highly recommend walking, as a way to begin exercising it is enjoyable for both you and the baby.  Get out and go for a stroll.

Fit’s tip:  After taking time off from vigorous exercise for nine months, it will take you some time to get back to your pre-pregnancy level of fitness.  Start with the level of exercise you did in your third trimester and work you way back, adding elements from your second trimester, and so on.  Good Luck!

Since most diets are difficult to follow and stick to and because weight loss is difficult to maintain, it is no surprise that "diet" is considered a four-letter word.  I have heard people complain that they "practically live on a diet", and with that mindset, how could the "dieter" not feel deprived?  The reality of the situation is that very few people can eat everything they want, not exercise, and not gain weight.  Everyone's metabolism slows down at 40, really it does.

So if you think about dieting as making a lifestyle change, it truly makes living the healthy life easier.  It also helps keep the pounds off.  So if you think lifestyle change is just a euphemism for "diet", I beg to differ.  If becoming healthy is your end goal (and losing weight is often part of that goal) then your end goal really has no end.  It is the life you are now living.  You have to keep exercising and watching what you eat because that is what a healthy person does.

So replace the word "diet" with "nutrition", as in "I am eating for nutrition". While you are at it, think not about "losing weight" but "losing body fat", since that is what you want to lose.  The scale might not change as your body changes if you are replacing fat with muscle.  A pound of muscle takes up a lot less room than a pound of fat.

The hour of 3pm rolls around and the desire to snack hits hard.  It makes sense since we all experience a natural slow down somewhere between lunch and dinner.  If your lunch was heavy in the carb department, like say noodles, you will likely crave more carbs and if you skipped breakfast (naughty you) your afternoon hunger pains will be even more intense.

First off, don't ignore your hunger pains.  You could end up grouchy, unable to concentrate, or both.  Plus your chance of overeating at dinner increases.  Take a moment to evaluate your hunger;  are you bored or truly hungry?  If you are bored, take yourself for a short walk.  If you are hungry don't walk to the vending machine, there are rarely healthy options in those machines.

Aim to snack on foods that have some protein and some carbs — an apple with almond butter, melon and cottage cheese or yogurt, cucumber with light lox spread or my favorite "go to" snack hummus and veggies.  Obviously these snacks take a little forethought, and if you haven't packed a snack try to find a package of raw or roasted (not honey roasted) nuts and a piece of fruit.

Snacking after dinner often leads to overeating.  It just happens that the mindless munchies take over and you end the day by consuming more calories than you burned during the day.  If you are dieting you definitely want to avoid that, since your goal is to be in a caloric deficit.

To break the late night snacking habit, I propose that you close your kitchen at 8:00 pm, or whenever you finish your dinner.  Yep, just think the kitchen is closed.  Don't open the pantry or the cabinet with the crackers, cookies, chips, chocolate — is it just me or do all tempting treats begin with the letter "C"?  Keep the refrigerator closed.

The only exception to the Kitchen Closed rule would be to make a nice cup of herbal tea.  Chamomile tea can satisfy your sweet tooth and help you wind down at the end of the day.  As I write this I am enjoying a cup of decaf Earl Grey with a splash of non-fat milk.