Wendy Wood

Traditionally, dieting has been centered on adopting a specialized meal plan until such time as the needed weight is lost. Modern views of dieting tend to focus more on adopting a new way of viewing food and changing our lifestyle to reflect a healthy, balanced and satisfying way of eating.

While many new moms want to emulate celebrities and return to their pre-pregnancy figures as quickly as possible, it is important to remember that pregnancy and birth take an enormous toll on your body.

Many dieters find that they have no trouble planning and eating sensible meals, but they falter when it comes to snacking.

A great tool for dieting is keeping a personal food diary. There is something about looking at your food intake in indisputable writing that helps you curb your bad food habits.

Combining breath control, balance and stretching, practicing Yoga is a great way to enhance flexibility, posture and muscle tone. There are many options available in Yoga-based workouts, from those designed for stress release to more strenuous workouts intended to supplement weight loss.

Without balance, your weight can fluctuate. Aside from the frustration this causes, studies have shown that yo-yo dieting is actually more harmful than carrying extra weight.