More than a third of American adults are trying to lose weight, but it’s a struggle for most.

Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the main cause of diet failure is trying to lose too much weight too fast. These “crash diets” usually require major changes in your eating habits, such as eliminating entire categories of foods, and they’re too difficult to stick with over the long term. As a result, many dieters get discouraged and give up.

A steady loss of a pound a week from cutting calories and exercising is a more realistic goal that will lead to long-term success, and a registered dietitian can help you put together a sensible eating and exercise plan that’s tailored to your needs.

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