I feel like I have tried every diet known to man and still can’t get to where I want to be. Every year dieting gets harder and it seems like end up a few pounds heavier. Are there good strategies for older people to lose weight?

To start, try to maintain your current weight. Very few Americans maintain weight from year to year and just keeping your weight stable is success.

Then think about losing weight in smaller increments. If you lose 10 percent of your body weight and maintain that for a year, then lose another 5 percent and maintain that for a year, then lose another 5 percent and maintain that for a year … you will get where you want to be without the yo-yoing that typically occurs.

Many people feel frustrated by that approach and are not happy with a 10 percent weight loss. But it’s sustainable and maintainable – and most often the alternative is regaining weight because the resultant calorie deficit needed is not sustainable.