Choosing A Weight Loss Plan

First, I should tell you that I wasted a lot of money trying different programs that didn't work. So after 20 years of not losing much weight, I decided that I had to do this my way. I felt like I knew all the ways that don’t work so I thought I could surely do this on my own. After weeks of reading anything I found on weight loss, I knew that I had been concentrating on the wrong thing. I had to lose fat, forget the weight. When you lose inches you will weigh less. You don’t need a scale, you need a tape measure. At first, I thought this would take hours to measure all the different parts of my body, but I learned quickly that you only have to measure your waist. Measure your waist at the navel. You can’t spot reduce. When your waist gets smaller everything else will get smaller.

As you probably gather by now, I’m not in favor of paying to lose fat. Of course, I realize some of us need professional help, you just don’t have a clue where to begin. I get in, and there is professional help available like qualified counselors and health professionals such as registered dietitians, doctors, and exercise trainers. You want to interview anyone first before you hire them. It’s not enough that this person knows the business and has a list of satisfied customers. You need someone you can really talk to, someone who understands your situation. Not all of us can be trained like professional athletes. They have to understand you, the schedule you have, who you live with, and all the times you tried before to lose weight. The medications you take, etc. You want a good listener.

During an interview, there are questions you need to ask.

How limited are the food choices?

Who sets your weight loss goal: you, or someone else?

What percentage of people complete the program?

What is the average weight loss among people who finish the program in one year?

What percentage of people have problems or side effects? What are those problems?

Is there a maintenance program to help keep the weight off once you lose it?

What is the total cost, including any foods or supplements that are required?

If you plan to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds, have any health problems, or take medication on a regular basis, talk to your doctor before you start a weight loss program.

I don’t advocate weight loss programs that want you to buy diet pills. I know some people need these plans but don’t think about the side effects. If you're looking for a plan look at the Weight Watchers Plan. There are no pills to buy or exceptional food you have to eat. They teach you how to eat properly and show you how to be more active.

If you follow the program and go to the meeting you will lose weight. You’ll learn what to eat and the right amounts to eat and at first, you will feel hungry, but anytime you change your diet you’ll go through a kind of withdrawal. You think you are hungry but it’s not hunger, it’s cravings. A departure from the chemical, sugars, and salts that are in many of the foods you were eating.

I encourage you to go in and talk to Weight Watchers and then make a decision. Look at their website for locations.

There are other weight loss programs that are similar, but watch out for the programs that want you to buy their products.

I lost my body fat by eliminating the foods that caused me to gain weight. For a short time, I stopped drinking anything with calories, and I stopped eating dairy. I stopped adding sugar and anything with white flour. Doing this alone cut my calories in half. Most of us don't realize how many calories we consume in one day. Some people consume half their calories in the liquids they consume. 

Look for my podcast by searching “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight” on the podcast app that you use. You’ll see a piece of my book cover.

If you really want to lose your body fat look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books. 

There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans.

 Look for my book. at Amazon.com, bn.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com and other online bookstores. Just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page.