Losing Weight More About Your Why Than Your How

Ever wonder why you can't lose those love handles or deflate that spare tire? We are inundated daily by news, talk shows, magazine articles and personal advice from well-meaning friends and family who tell us just how to lose the weight and how to keep it off. Lack of information is not really what is keeping most of us fat.

If you were to ask anyone who struggles with their weight how they could take it off, they would most likely tell you; eat right and exercise. They may have variations on the same theme; eat less candy, drink more water, eat more vegetables. But basically we all know what we need to do to attain and maintain a healthy weight. You consume fewer calories than you expend, you eat foods that are nutrient rich and you stay active. The basics of weight loss and weight gain don't change. We all know what we need to do or should do; the question is why aren't we doing it?

We all know the "how". Anyone who has made it to a seventh grade health class knows how. You would have to have been completely isolated from all society to not know how to do it. In fact, even then, your body knows how. Your body craves water and good food and even exercise. We have become a society that overrides complete common sense and goes against the grain nutritionally and health-wise.

So, now that we have established that we all really know how to lose weight; the question of why don't we becomes most important. You have to have an important "why". When those candy bars call you, will your reason for wanting to lose weight outweigh the chocolate craving?

Just like smoking, you have to want to quit overeating. You have to want to lose the weight for yourself and you have to want to achieve the results. No one else can enforce their will on you will enough force to make you have lasting changes in your diet and lifestyle. It all comes down to you and your why for losing the weight.

A strong sense of purpose will carry you through the times when you would rather munch a bag of chips than a celery stick. The sense of purpose has to be all your own though.

The difference between "gee, I should lose a few pounds" and "I want to get into a size 8 before my class reunion" is huge. A vague and general knowledge that you shouldn't be so heavy won't motivate you to turn down the midnight snacks. The desire to show up at a function and knock the socks off your former classmates with your svelte hourglass figure or 6-pack abs is a far greater motivator.