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The Weight Loss Myth

 

This morning I was reading through my news sources, as I always do, clicking on links to things that interest me. One of them was entitled “How to lose weight healthily, according to science – and the diet myths that do more harm than good”.

As a healthy individual who has always made sure not to be overweight, without following a diet, it interested me what a so-called expert was now saying about losing those extra pounds, especially if it included “myths”.

 

The article, written by one of the thousands of “experts” on the subject of weight loss, went on to describe at length all of the things (myths) which one should be aware of when it comes to losing weight by following many of the hundreds of diets which exist.

 

It went into great detail to describe all of the things one should avoid doing like cutting out carbs, counting calories, crash dieting, destroying gut bacteria, and fasting. As always, there were no real answers to the question of how to achieve and maintain the desired weight level until the very end, when the answer to all these questions appeared. A book the author was selling!

 

It reminded me of the size of the weight-loss industry and of all the myths this industry feeds on (pardon the pun) to make money. 

 

It also reminded me of a presentation given by Zig Ziglar, a well-known motivational speaker of the past. He was talking on stage about the question of weight loss and asked a rather large black lady if anything she had eaten recently, “had passed her lips by accident”?

 

Even my mother told us decades ago, “you are what you eat”!

 

But there are two elements to this statement. One is related to the question of your body weight and the second concerns your health. There are some unhealthy diets that will get you to lose weight but which could kill you prematurely of a heart attack or some other disease.

 

So what is the answer? In my view, it is a simple two-step process that I have practiced through all of my later years and which costs me nothing. On the contrary, it even saves me money! No myths.

 

The first step is not to change what you eat but when you eat. Many of you may have heard of the concept of intermittent fasting but never investigated what it actually means. Let’s keep it simple. Stop eating breakfast and eat your last meal in the evening no later than 7.00 PM. Lunch at 12.00 - 1.00 PM, snack all afternoon, and dinner no later than 7.00 PM. That’s it!

 

You can drink as much as you want as long as it is coffee or tea without milk or sugar (sorry, that’s the only sacrifice) and, of course, water. No soft drinks. Keep eating what you always have with the exception of breakfast. No diet. No other restrictions. Your excess fat will melt away. Your belt size will decline. I promise.

 

Of course, you could speed up the process a little if you attempt to use your legs instead of the car. Take a couple of walks each week of 30 minutes each. Maybe take the stairs instead of the elevator. Bike to the store instead of the car. Don’t go mad. Keep it simple.

 

Once you are on your way to a lighter body, you will be motivated to take a closer look at what you are eating (between 12.00PM and 7.00 PM). Of course, smaller portions is always a good thing but replacing fries with vegetables and desserts with fresh fruit will not only accelerate the fat-burning process, it will also start feeding you with the nutrients your body needs.

 

The bad news? Well, skipping breakfast will take a little willpower. Drink lots of tea or coffee (without sugar and milk!!). After the first week, the hunger for breakfast will decline and in some cases will never come back.

 

Stopping eating after 7.00 PM has other benefits too. Most people sleep much better as their bodies no longer have to keep digesting food late into the evening. The other good news is your body will still be fasting and losing weight even when you are asleep. You won’t even notice it!

 

The benefit of such a program is you can deviate from it sometimes and yet get back on the program quickly. With holiday events such as Thanksgiving and Xmas on the calendar, you can still participate without restrictions as long as you return to the program. Even a “weekend binge” is occasionally allowed.

 

Personally, I deviate from the program when I am on vacation, knowing I will be back on the program when I get home. Those “extra vacation pounds” are no longer a problem.

 

Decision time. Just do it and see how it works. No myths or complicated diets. If you have any serious existing health problems, you might want to have a conversation with your doctor first. 

 

As motivation, try and name any overweight people who lived deep into their 90’s. I can think of a number of them who were not overweight! Think of all the positive comments you will be getting from your friends and family and how you have achieved something many people just talk about. Kill the myths with the truth!

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