Published: August 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Stephanie Morgan
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Diets come and go like the tides. There are too many to count and too many to keep up with, but one thing is for certain, forgetting to keep up with yours will inevitably end with jeans that are too tight and a need for a way to shed those extra pounds one more time. What we know and have always known is that, whether shedding the last couple of pounds or a couple of sizes, eating less and exercising 30 minutes every single day works with time.

Of course, how we get to that ideal as a part of our everyday lives will depend on, well, our everyday lives. Each of us has our own reasons to finally lose those bad health habits, and a lot of our success will depend on finding a health program that matches our lifestyle and personality. We'll begin with a success story that started as anything but and then look at a couple of personalities that will most likely seem all too familiar.

Healthy and Happy

David Adams had enjoyed a delectable birthday dinner with his wife, Helene, and their relatives on a gorgeous evening in May three years ago. They took a leisurely walk by the river, and just as they were headed to the car, Adams looked at his wife and announced her greatest fear: He thought he was having a stroke. After he got to the hospital and had the necessary tests, the couple’s fears were confirmed — he had suffered a stroke and would need heart surgery as well. In August, Adams finally returned home from surgeries, rehabilitation and nutritional counseling to a new life and a new diet.

Together, the Adamses have taken the advice of their doctors and nutritionist very seriously and are living a much healthier life because of it. They believe that this experience granted them the opportunity to make changes that allow them to get more out of everything they do.

Tips from the Adamses:

• Look for low sugar and high fiber in everything you buy.

• Oatmeal for breakfast; brown rice or whole wheat pastas for dinner; natural is always better.

• Enjoy chicken or pork instead of high-fat beef.

• Be a support system to those around you. The Adamses have leaned on their friends as well as the wonderful support system at Roger C. Peace Hospital.

Worker Bee

The monotony of a 9 to 5 schedule in a cubicle easily becomes an excuse for missing Zumba and eating poorly on a daily basis. It is so much easier to run out for a burger, scoot down the sidewalk for sweet tea, or replace lunch with chips from the bottom left drawer — and who could blame you, working the hours you do? Below are a few tips for adjusting your schedule and making choices for a better you when the whistle blows on Friday at 5 p.m.

• Show up a little early to work, walk inside the building and climb some stairs every day. Exercise is really important, and every little bit counts.

• Try green tea instead of coffee on your break. Green tea is full of antioxidants that speed up metabolism and increase weight loss while you sit at your desk.

• Remove those high-fat, high-calorie snacks from your desk; if they aren't there, you can't eat them! Instead, pack cut-up vegetables or fruit, nuts or small, pre-packaged, low-fat versions of your favorite crackers or pretzels. Drink water throughout the day by bringing along a water bottle.

• Check out the view from the other end of the office next time you take a break. Again, walking those few extra steps makes a big difference. For that matter, park as far away as you can from the door in the morning and walk to the water fountain for an hourly refresh of the water bottle.

Social Butterfly

We eat out an average of four to five times in a week, and most of the time with friends. We want to make good choices, but quite frankly, it is tough to have our cake and eat it too. If you have to eat out, try these suggestions to lessen the punch:

• Ask questions about what you are ordering and make special requests. Leave off the butter. Ask for a whole wheat bun, skip the condiments altogether and by all means, get low-fat dressing on the side.

• Never, ever super-size it, and skip the combo. It is OK to order a single item off the drive-through board, but educate yourself on the best choices. Most restaurants will now provide nutritional information upon request. You may be surprised at the hidden calories in many menu items.

• Order water and spare yourself substantial calories and sugar.

In the end, we are all human. We will enjoy that fried seafood platter at the beach, cake on our birthdays and hot dogs and cotton candy at the baseball game. Don't beat yourself up over an occasional splurge, just remember the tried-and-true rule of everything in moderation, no matter what your personality.