The temptation to go on a fad diet and lose and gain, lose and gain, and lose and gain some more, is overwhelming for celebrities, as well as the rest of us. Want to know what really happens with some of these wild and crazy fad diets?

Two factors cause most yo-yo diets. The first is sugar dependency. Second is the sense of failure that breaks your spirit. You need to be aware of both if you want to maintain your weight-loss plan.

It is a new year, and the cry to get back in shape is heard around the world. But there are many out there that don't believe it can happen for them. For one-third of my life, I thought that too. I was obese, weighing 50 more pounds than I do now.

If your New Year's resolution involves making a change in your diet with weight loss as a goal, you are facing a dizzying array of information out there. There is a great deal of evidence about what practices help weight loss, much of it contradictory.

I'm still losing weight (at this point, 140 pounds). However, far greater in importance to me is this: I'm learning an incredible amount about nutrition, cooking, and exercise, and I finally feel I'm developing a healthy relationship with food.

Have you ever tried to lose weight by not thinking about food? How about trying to stop yourself from calling your love interest by blocking out all thoughts about that person? Ever try to quit smoking by trying not to think about smoking? Did it work? I'll bet it didn't.

Let's face it: Too often, our New Year's resolutions are toothless fairytales that quickly fall by the wayside, abandoned long before February rolls around. The good news is that it needn't be this way.

Here are some tips I've offered my clients -- and now you -- to get out of the all-or-nothing mentality and into the mode of setting lifestyle goals that you can actually stick with to help you lead a healthier and more hassle-free life.

It is my mission to help you lose weight, feel better, look better and live a healthy and happy long life. You can't do those things if you are overweight and in denial about it. Your weight is ultimately something you can control. I'd like to help you do just that.

As we prepare to turn the page on 2012 and ring in 2013, it's highly likely that most of us will be making resolutions regarding weight loss that go something like, "I want to lose 30 pounds in three months." Over the past 20 years, I have come to realize that having a goal by itself does not lead to success.

To my surprise, this smaller, quieter way of goal setting actually began to work. By keeping quiet, I didn't feel compelled to check in with people (or worse, explain to them why a goal hadn't yet been met). Without this cycle of shame, I found my goals actually had a chance to gain more traction.

This more benevolent approach to resolutions is about creating a lifestyle that you desire rather than achieving a single goal. Though you will achieve many goals in the process, you will also build daily routines that you can keep up and a life that you want to live.

I can't wait for you to be the fit and fabulous person you want to be -- and you will be. Now that you're creating a healthier you, follow these tips to avoid common diet pitfalls.

As the countdown to a new year begins, excitement in the air grows! To many of us, a new year signals a time for new beginnings, a time for a fresh start.

When I wrote down my goals, it's not like they all came true overnight. I'd make goals for this year, this month, this week and today. Most days, weeks and months I only made some progress, sometimes none. But I started getting better. And look what happened!

Are you tired of making the same New Year's resolution to lose weight or get in better shape, year after year?

It's holiday time and if you're following a weight-loss plan, there are three different approaches you can take for those festive mealtimes. Whichever decision you make, I hope you'll savor every minute of it without guilt. Here are a few tips to help you sail through this holiday season.

If you're worrying about how to resist temptation at the next holiday party, you are not alone. Sadly, too many party-goers are more focused on their ever-spreading mid section than spreading holiday cheer. If all you really want for Christmas is the secret to overcoming overeating, you're in luck.

Before putting all of your energy (literally) into your workouts, be sure that you are prepping yourself by eating the foods that provide you with the nutrients your body needs. A successful pairing of exercise and nutrition is not beyond your reach!

In a previous post, I shared my story and gave advice on how you can actually start loving your workouts, make them count, stay motivated, and squash excuses. Now for the other half of the equation: Fueling your body with clean, whole foods! This is just as important as exercising.

The road to clean eating is paved in blog posts. Okay, that's probably not the case for everyone, but it worked for me.

I recently received a wonderful thank-you letter from a client of mine who lost 150 pounds in just eight months! I thought I'd share his story with you because much of what he went through is such a common experience.