Photo: Michelle May, M.D.

The trademarks of yo-yo dieting -- overeating, followed by deprivation in guilty repentance -- may seem like something a doctor would have the self-control and training to be above, but Michelle May, M.D., former yo-yo dieter and author of the new book "Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat," explains that "health care professionals are people too," and that the restrictions of diets -- not the dieters -- are to blame for failed weight-loss plans.

The reason? In her book, she explains that the very basics of dieting -- the counting, planning and constant need to think and plan your eating based off of someone else's rules (often "before you're even out of bed!") is tiring. So much so, that any good aspect of the diet is essentially canceled out by the end result: "This constant effort and vigilance may wear you out and cause you to return to overeating to escape." Once Dr. May ditched diets, and adopted long-term successful strategies she describes below, the weight came off.

That's Fit: What do you think was most effective in helping you achieve a healthy weight?

Dr. Michelle May: I had to pay attention not just to what and how much I was eating, but why I was eating in the first place. I didn't have any deep, dark emotional issues, but I had certainly learned to comfort and entertain myself with food. Even when I was on a diet and following the rules about what to eat, I was still eating when I was bored, stressed or tired. When I felt too deprived of the foods I loved, I'd go off my diet. Nothing had fundamentally changed about my relationship with food so I just went back to overeating my favorites. This is what I called my eat-repent-repeat cycle.

I've since worked with thousands of people who are doing exactly the same thing, and the reason is that with yo-yo [dieting you don't] have any middle ground -- you are either on your diet or off. I kicked yo-yo dieting by changing the paradigm completely from a yo-yo to a pendulum. There is still the possibility of extremes but as you give overeating and dieting less of your energy, the pendulum settles into a smaller arc in the middle where you have the flexibility and the mindfulness to nourish your mind, body, heart and soul.

That's Fit: How do you prevent cravings and obsessing over food from ruining your healthy habits?

MM: It boils down to two overarching strategies: I eat what I love. That means that I eat fearlessly without obsessing over every bite of food I put in my mouth. Amazingly, while it may seem counter-intuitive, that freedom made food powerless over me. As a result, I don't bother with foods that taste so-so, I crave foods that are fresh, wholesome and well-prepared, and when I eat something purely for pleasure, I don't ruin it with a dose of guilt or fear of future deprivation so I am satisfied with a reasonable amount. I love what I eat. That means I eat what I love mindfully, intentionally and attentively. I am aware of my own hunger and fullness levels and the appearance, flavors and aromas of the food as I savor it. I eat with the intention of feeling better when I'm done than I did when I started.

That's Fit: Your book title is "Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat" -- what are some of the things you love to eat? Have you learned to love new things as a result of your research for this book?

MM: I am a foodie! I love everything about the eating experience -- cooking a gourmet meal for eight or comfort food for my family; dining out with friends; experimenting with ethnic cuisines; grilling fresh vegetables for paninis or salads; savoring a single piece of luxurious chocolate. For me, breaking free of my own eat-repent-repeat cycle has allowed me to eat fearlessly, and surprisingly mindfully so I don't have to obsess over everything I ate (or didn't get to eat)!