Losing Weight – There is no magic Answer

Apr 26
06:56

2008

James Spellman

James Spellman

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Why do so many people look for a magic answer to losing weight? What is it about this subject that makes people ignore scientific consensus and try fad diets.

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There seems to be something about dieting that makes people look for a magic solution. Everyone wants to find a short cut.  There is a multi-billion dollar industry providing quack solutions to the world's weight problem. Many people seem willing to try anything to lose weight apart from the one solution that we know works.

The crazy thing is we understand the physical processes behind weight loss very well. Scientists have done a huge amount of research on the subject so we know how to lose weight healthily.  There is still more to learn but there is no mystery about how to lose weight. It is a simple equation of calories in against calories out. If you expend more calories than you eat,Losing Weight – There is no magic Answer Articles you will lose weight.

There are many things you can do to help balance this equation in your favour. It does take some discipline and will power. Probably, you will need to make some changes to your lifestyle.  The single biggest advantage you can give yourself is to gain an understanding of the physical processes that will take place in your body. Once you understand what is happening, you have the most important tool you need to lose weight.

Believe me, as soon as someone does discover a magic secret to losing weight, we will all know about it very quickly. Until that day comes, the only healthy way to do it is the hard way.

A Quick Story

I was in the coffee room at my office when one of the women from downstairs came in.

'I am going on a diet,' she happily declared.

"What's the plan?" I asked.

"I am going on the cabbage soup diet."

"What does that involve?"

"I've got the book. It's great. I shall eat nothing but cabbage soup for a week and I will lose 12 lbs."

"That must be a short book. Please don't do it."

I was horrified. What kind of ridiculous, hare-brained scheme was that for losing weight? I asked her to reconsider. I told her it was unhealthy and she would do herself more harm than good. I said she might even lose 12 lbs but for sure she would put it right back on again and more. There was no persuading her. She had made up her mind.

I saw her again a week later. She was very pleased with herself. She had lost 9lbs. She had given up after six days because her skin had turned a funny colour and her urine had an unpleasant odour. Still she was pleased.

I saw her again two months later. She was visibly fatter than before. She said she could not understand it. She had put all the weight back on and more. I tried to explain to her how I knew this would happen.

She didn't like my explanation. It didn't give an easy solution to her weight problem. She had her own plan. She was going to do the cabbage soup diet again.

That was when I decided to write this website.