WEIGHT LOSS

While it is true that everyone is put on this earth with a unique genetic makeup that can influence future health and disease, it is also true that environmental components such as diet, lifestyle, stress levels and smoking can also have enormous impact.

In terms of weight loss, the word “excuses” implies that people are looking for an out so they do not have to start. I think excuses is too harsh a term in this case. However, I do believe most people who are frustrated with the weight-loss world (and are perhaps carrying some emotional bag- gage) have their own internal list of reasons why they “cannot lose weight.” Here are some examples.

• “I am too tired to start.” This is my favorite. This is precisely the reason you should start!

• “I don’t have the money to start another program.”

• “All of my family is overweight; that’s the way we are.”
Not necessarily. While I agree that every body has a different shape and size, it is still integral to health that you maintain a healthy weight range. By doing so, you will dramatically reduce your risk factors for a multi- tude of disease processes, and you will boost your self-confidence.

• “I have tried every diet out there; they just don’t work for me!”
If you have tried every diet on the market, stop! Take the time to understand the “what” and the “why” behind your eating. Until you do, permanent change is unlikely to happen.

• “This simply won’t work for my family.”
It will. Improving your health by losing weight is a very important and honorable venture. Explain to your family that you need support on this. Also, as mentioned, you will not be eating plain tasteless tofu-your food choices will be delicious and bursting with flavor, taste and natural sweetness. If you have children, this is an even better reason to start on the right track. Children are “monkey see, monkey do” in terms of food choices and will eat whatever they find in the house-good or bad.

Buddha (568-488 B.C.)