I think we've all heard the diet advice "everything in moderation." It makes sense, but it's not without its flaws.

For one, what is moderate? A single scoop of ice cream, or a single bowl of ice cream? One small cheeseburger or the super-double deluxe? The word moderate is vague and, for those who are at odds with their love of food, it can create problems. Sure, you can follow the serving sizes but, let's face it, the serving sizes on our favorite treats are often pretty puny.

Another caveat with the advice is that it's easier to follow with some foods than it is with others. Take the latest post on Glamour's Margarita Shapes Up blog, for example. The author was doing fine with a moderate serving of oatmeal each morning. But when she helped herself to a serving of her favorite cereal, she soon found herself going back for seconds and then thirds. The author's solution was dump the box of cereal in the garbage.

I've struggled with the everything in moderation mantra, too. However, I don't think deprivation is the key to sustainable weight loss. To attain a healthy weight -- and, more importantly, maintain it -- you have to learn to choose nutritious foods, keep portion sizes in control, and save treats for rare occasions.