Weight Loss Secrets

The secret is that there is no secret. 

That's what I thought today when I heard a television show this morning mention that a weight-loss expert would share her "secrets" for lasting weight loss.  Ha ha, I said to myself, there is no secret! 

That's right.  It's like the "Wizard of Oz". . . just a guy behind a curtain, no wizard, no superpowers, no way around it.

Seriously.  Is this a secret?  To lose weight, you have to eat less than you need.  You need to deny yourself "treats" that pack on the pounds.  (Bye-bye, ice cream.)  Exercise is important, not only so you'll feel better, but also to encourage your metabolism and increase muscle mass.  (Hello, sweat.)  You can't eat as much as you could when you were younger.  You can't eat as much as your husband or your skinny friend who runs marathons.  You can't eat what your kids eat and you can't eat just because you see something yummy or because it only costs a dollar.

None of that is top-secret information.  That's just common sense which so many of us do not want to embrace.  We want what we want and we want it when we want it. 

If there is really a secret, I'd like to hear it.  I'd like to know the secret because if I find out, I'll let you all know and then we will easily slip out of the extra weight we carry and I will write a best-selling book about The Secret (wait, has that already been done?) and then I'll take you all on a cruise where we will all wear teeny weeny itsy bitsy yellow polka-dot bikinis and we will all eat cake.  I just have to figure out what the secret is first.

I know it's not this:

1)  Eat less.
2)  Exercise more.
3)  Avoid processed foods and quit ordering french fries from drive-thru windows.

Comments

[Mary]

Here's a secret that I think alot of "new" dieters might not know about or practice: be consistent! Weight loss is not going to show up overnight! I can't tell you how many times I hopped on the scale the morning after an exercise session and been so dissapointed I didn't lose a few pounds, because I did walk around the block a few times yesterday! And I skipped dessert! It just dosen't work that way. Consistency is the key. Slogg along, week after week after week, make more GOOD choices than BAD, and you will (eventually) have success!

Mary in TN

[Sheri]

I like your sarcasm on this topic. Everything lately is about how to best lose weight. All we need to do, as you mentioned is get back to the basics. But, maybe the 'secret' is "decisions". All we have to do is decide what we will eat and do. Once we follow thru on the decisions we will see results. After all, for those of us who have been on again, off again with our weight loss journey know too well when we set our minds to doing the basics we see results.

[somebodys mother]

My number one secret/rule for weight loss:
Gravy is not a beverage

[jsprik]

what?? fries from the drive-thru are a no-no??? geeez now you tell me ...;) **throws her fries out the window**

[jsprik]

what?? fries from the drive-thru are a no-no??? geeez now you tell me ...;) **throws her fries out the window**

[jsprik]

what?? fries from the drive-thru are a no-no??? geeez now you tell me ...;) **throws her fries out the window**

[PB]

You are so right, Mel. It really is just that . . . hard. Eat balanced meals but less than your body requires. Exercise each day. Lather, rinse, repeat until you weigh what you should to be healthy.

[Jen - Queen of Poo]

Oh, I hope you discover the secret because that cruise sounds like a blast. Do you know how much yummy food you get on a cruise?! Oh wait. LOL

[Sandy McCann]

I do not wish to sound critical about others ideas, but decisions are not where I get stuck. It is the place of remembering I face a decision where I fall...so often eating without even getting to the decision thing is my issue:(

How DID I manage this situation in 2006????

[Skinny Doc]

Great humor for this post, I loved it! Sign me up for the cruise. And I can totally relate to not being able to eat as much as others, like my super skinny roommate who eats 3 bowls of icecream a day. I'm not kidding!!!

[becca]

I love the comment that gravy is not a beverage!

I have resisted fast food for a week now. Not so hard. Especially with the nutrition facts posted.

I work at a local restaurant, and I have to say I am done eating there, even with half off. Won't say where though....
Good luck everyone.
No men on the cruise, and I'm there!

[Boston Gym]

Consistency is the key to weight loss. You have to stick with whatever weight loss program you choose.

Remember that it's normal for you weight to fluctuate. People tend to weigh themselves too often. Weigh yourself about once a week and no more.

Also, establish a workout routine at your local gym and commit to going at least 3-4 times per week...and when you are there really push yourself.

In the end you will look at your new body and be happy with what you see.

-Timothy

[MamaBearJune]

The "secret" IS the decisions we make. We decide to eat ice cream, chips and fries. We decide to sit and watch TV. But yeah, like you say, it's no secret. We all know this.

We CAN decide to eat healthier foods. We CAN decide to put down the remote and take a walk. It's HARD, that's why so many people look for the easy way out. They'd rather take a pill than sweat.

"Mindless eating" is NOT truly mindless. You make the decision to walk into the kitchen and grab that bag of chips (or whatever your weakness is.) The only way you can eat without making a decision is if you are drugged, tied to a chair and force-fed. Pretty sure that doesn't apply to any of us. ;-)

So let's DECIDE to do what needs to be done and quit making excuses! :-D

[Paige]

You mean the dollar menu is not healthy?