It takes courage to start a weight-loss diet.
It takes courage to work to work to maintain a weight-loss.
Each of us is more courageous than we give ourselves credit for. 

We're all the same,
and

We're all different.

I've read many books and articles

by people who were fat and are now thin.

Now they want to tell us that 
they have the ANSWER
...they know the SECRET.

Their stories are very much the same....



They were fat.
Their bodies were uncomfortable, 
which limited their activities
They hated themselves.

Other people hated them.

They began eating (and/or exercising) differently.

They lost weight.

Their lives improved,
because =
their bodies were more comfortable
and they could engage in more activities.

They liked themselves,

Other people liked them.

What is different about each story
is the ANSWER and the SECRET.

Each of them found a "Diet"
which is a simple term
to define a specific way of eating

(with or without a specific plan of exercise).

They were able to incorporate that "Diet" into their lifestyle,

and as a result they lost weight. 


Whether or not they maintained is another issue
....
because the books or articles are usually written 
and published
soon after the initial weight-loss

and there's not a lot of opportunity for follow-up. 
I suspect that's a lot like the TV show,
The Biggest Loser,
those who maintain stay more visible,
while the majority of those who don't maintain sink from public view.

What is this ANSWER?
What is this SECRET?



According to these published authors...



It is
incorporating or eliminating specific foods, like:



Lots of protein and few carbs (plant based foods)
or 
primarily plant based foods, and little protein

or lots of meat, fish and chicken
or 
vegan

or 
only "real" food
or
 mostly pre-packaged processed diet meals
or
 only low-fat foods, either "balanced" or "low-carb"
or 
primarily high-fat fods, but low carb
or 
eaten raw,
or 
diet shakes or diet cookies or diet snack bars ... except for dinner

or
 eating only what your body tells you to eat

or 
etc. etc. etc.

or
eating more or less frequently, like


5 or 6 small meals each day

or 3 meals no snacks each day

or eating only when hungry
or fasting until dinner on alternate days

or fasting except for a 5 hour period every day

or skipping breakfast...or .....eating breakfast

or eating sparingly one day, and normally on alternate days
or snacking all day while skipping all meals
or etc. etc. etc.

or
control of the amounts of food eaten, like

tracking calories eaten
or using various methods to naturally limit calories
or weighing and measuring all food
or using food exchange lists
or limiting serving sizes – like to 1 plate only
or listening to your body
or etc. etc. etc. 


So….my conclusion is…..
We are all the same
and
We are all different.
Everything works for somebody.
Each of us just needs to do whatever works for us individually.


This is a picture of one serving of food from my new cooking video,
Fish in Foil
which is located at DietHobby, under RECIPES,  Mealtime.

The mind is a powerful thing,
and so is the imagination
or our ability to visualize.

Research says that our minds don't truly know
the difference between things we imagine
and what we experience in reality,
which is why visualizing ourselves
as the successful persons we want to be
can be so helpful in getting us there.

No matter what our goals may be:
short-term, weight-loss, health and fitness,
or long-term, involving life in general,
there is power to envisioning ourselves
where we want to be.

It only takes a few minutes of our time,
but the effect is much longer lasting.
With a little daydreaming,
we can find ourselves more motivated to make
that goal a reality instead of just a dream.

For several years, I have been corresponding with a person
who remains mired in obesity primarily due to her inability
to resist the allure of Intuitive Eating.

In her defense of her current Intuitive Eating Program,
she recently said:

"There's some sort of saying I've heard
about how thoughts affect feelings which affect behavior,
and this hypnosis program tries to change thoughts and feelings". 

I believe that positive thoughts can change our feelings (emotions)
and therefore result in a change in our behavior.

However this is a psychological process.
while
Hunger involves a physiological process.

We use the word "feelings" for two different sensations.

feelings can be emotions = psychology
feelings can be body sensations ….. hunger = physiology

This is the basic flaw in the theories of Intuitive Eating.

When I experience the strong feelings that tell me I need to urinate,
I can think positive thoughts, and this can make me feel better emotionally,
however, these thoughts will not change my body's physical sensations
which are associated with the physiological process of urination,
and…ultimately …. my body will follow through with the specific behavior
that my body feels is needed.

Urination is an physical process, over which we have learned
to achieve a measured amount of control,
and when we receive the signals from our body,
we don't have to give in immediately, and
we can choose to temporarily delay the process of elimination.
If we do not choose to delay…we will commit a socially unacceptable act.
and, eventually …no matter what we are thinking… the body will do what it does.

Hunger is also a physical process, over which we have learned
to achieve a measured amount of control.
and when we receive the signals from our body,
we don't have to give in immediately, and
we can consciously choose to delay the process of eating,
and we can consciously choose what foods to use to satisfy that immediate hunger.

However, if an obese, or reduced obese, person eats only in response
to the signals of their body (feelings of hunger)
they will remain fat…
(which some consider a socially unacceptable act)

Because the body has it's own agenda,
It will do everything it can to protect its fat stores.
An obese person's body isn't going to naturally try to become normal weight,
the obese person's body sees it's job is to keep its fat.

All of the positive thinking in the world
will never change the natural inner workings of the body.

We can't fly.
We must urinate.
Hunger signals from an obese, or reduced obese, body
come from the body's perceived need to protect fat stores,
and despite positive thinking .. no matter what our emotions tell us…
Once we have become Obese,..or reduced obese..
our bodies will signal us to eat in a way that will make and keep us fat.

In order to become normal weight, and stay normal weight,
we … who are obese or formerly obese...
will ALWAYS have to over-ride our body's "natural" signals,
and use the CONSCIOUS PROCESS of choosing to eat
the types and amounts of food that will keep our body normal weight.

Intuitive eating is a lovely fairy tale.
But Prince Charming is never coming with a glass slipper,
and an obese person will never become normal weight by listening to their body.