By Arthur Polite

Are you trying to lose weight by taking some miracle diet pill or following some weight loss program that is suppose to work for everyone regardless of their physical circumstances? For years we have trained our mind and body to develop bad eating habits and lifestyles that have resulted in our being overweight. It is time that you stop trying to simply lose weight but instead change those things that caused you to become overweight in the first place.

How many times have you started a weight loss or diet program just to end up losing those nutrients necessary for a healthy life, or giving up on the program, or even gaining all your weight back if not more? Don't worry... YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Most of us know the weight loss or diet industry brings in billions of dollars by telling us...take this pill...don't eat this or that...drink this shake...eat this meal...exercise this way...follow this plan etc. You are blasted with... before and after pictures... but when you look at yourself in the mirror what have you really done?

• lost water weight through sweat and dehydration just to gain it back
• starved yourself without a plan to change your eating habits
• deprived yourself of the essential nutrition for good health
• taken pills with known side effects
• consumed beverages with synthetic chemicals and too many calories

All for the purpose of losing weight in a way that's suppose to fit everyone

Even with all the money we spend on weight loss and diet plans our society is grossly overweight. Adults and children are suffering negative effects due to a life of obesity which has become a major issue in our society.

In many cases we are being taken advantage of by those who are looking for the fast buck...those that have no care about the unhealthy or undesired results we and our children may experience. Knowledge and understanding are sure ways to eliminate the many obstacles you face when trying to obtain a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.

Weight loss and dieting are general terms that we take for granted, but do you really know how your body works? Do you know enough to make intelligent decisions that will end this unwanted cycle of losing weight and gaining it back...if you lose weight at all? You can lose pounds and be in bad condition due to a lack of nutrition or gain pounds and be in great shape by weight lifting exercises. So, what do we really mean by "trying to lose weight"?

We should at least know those things that cause our bodies to be healthy and allow us to live our lives to the fullest. Don't you think you deserve a healthy life? Shouldn't you feel good and look good without the false promises?

Well you shouldn't be thinking about losing weight, you should be thinking about things that cause you to burn calories or burn fat. You need to understand metabolism and how to increase yours.

• You should know the foods that cause your metabolism to speed up.
• You need to change your eating habits
• You need to be more active.
• You basically need to burn more calories than you consume.

Since everything we do begins with how we think, it's obvious that we must change the way we think when it comes to losing weight. We should first understand that to get the body we desire we must take certain steps and that weight loss is the direct result of taking those steps. Success comes when you know without doubt what you should be doing...AND THEN DOING IT.

Many of us begin a weight loss program and give up when there are no visible results after a period of time... this may be due to our impatience or the program itself. Many of us may have some success with a weight loss program but at the same time become unhealthy because of the loss of nutrients and vitamins while following the program. Many of us have success with the weight loss program but eventually gain the weight back because there is no follow up plan to keep the weight off.

That old way of thinking that causes you to lose weight and gain it all back must change. That old way of thinking that causes you to lose weight and lose necessary nutrients must change. You need to concentrate on the steps that will allow you to reach your goals and be successful at permanently losing those unwanted pounds... not just a one size fits all program.

Of course you want to lose weight but that's the big picture, and that thought alone will not cause you to lose those pounds. You need to develop a plan of action that fits your lifestyle.You need to have a plan that will give you immediate positive results to continually fuel the fire of your enthusiasm.

Remember, if you want something different you've got to do something different.