We’ve all been there — you’ve packed on a few pounds and now you need to lose a bit of weight. There’s no way around it; it’s time to go on a diet. Similar to the various stages of grieving, these are the stages of dieting.
1. “I’ll start my diet tomorrow…”
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/RCJgY8B.gif)
2. The dread just knowing that your diet is about to start.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Oi8lD9Y.gif)
3. Finally starting that diet and feeling like a champ. “I got this!” is now your go-to motto.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/NuNSffZ.gif)
4. Then the hunger pangs kick in. Your co-workers and significant other are terrified of your hangry side.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/zmnsLmt.gif)
5. After a few hours of sticking to the diet and munching on carrots to ease your afternoon hunger attack, you are very much regretting your decision to diet.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/DOQMNXp.gif)
6. You know it’s getting bad when you start dreaming about pizza and cake.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Orp0jsp.gif)
7. You spend all week meticulously planning your one, glorious cheat meal.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2chTqrS.gif)
8. Fending off people who want in on your cheat meal. No, you can’t just have a slice of pizza. Yes, I plan on eating the entire thing.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/8MKrJe3.gif)
9. The heartbreak that follows after you finish your cheat meal. You now have to wait an entire week for the next one.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/i5soTmO.gif)
10. Again, why did you do this to yourself in the first place?
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/UdNNieC.gif)
11. Stepping on the scale, seeing that you’ve dropped a few pounds and feeling like a champ all over again. Totally worth the pain.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Un96YhI.gif)
12. Celebrating the new, healthier and slimmer you. Go ahead, strut your stuff.
![](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/RMHCOle.gif)
Okay, so now what?
The journey to a healthier you can seem daunting, so we’ve selected some of our most popular nutrition stories to help get you started:
- 5 Foods to Boost Your Immune System
- Try These 6 Tricks to Kickstart Your Metabolism
- 5 Spices With Brain Health Benefits
- Here’s Why You Get The Drunk Munchies
- 6 Tips for a Healthier You in 2017
![Danielle Tarasiuk](https://cdn.vitalupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Danielle-Tarasiuk_avatar_1480354012-100x100.jpg)
Danielle Tarasiuk is a multimedia journalist based in Los Angeles. Her work has been published on AllDay.com, Yahoo! Sports, KCET, and NPR-affiliate stations KPCC and KCRW. She’s a proud Sarah Lawrence College and USC Annenberg alumn.