Before embarking on any weight loss program, it is essential that you understand how and why you came to put on those excess pounds in the first place.
Like most people, you probably started to put on weight when you made some kind of change to your lifestyle.
You may have begun a new relationship or got married. Perhaps you had a baby. You may have changed your job and suddenly had to do lots of entertaining or you may have become more deskbound rather than active.
It could be that you left school or college and found you no longer have time for regular sports or exercise sessions or you may have been incapacitated in some other way which means you are less active than you used to be.
Weight gain is also closely linked to our emotions and, if you have been going through a tough time, perhaps splitting up with a partner or losing your job, then you may well have turned to food as a source of comfort.
Whatever the trigger, putting on weight almost always involves a lifestyle change that means you eat more calories than you need or burn off less than you ought to through exercise.
It is crucial that you understand the reasons behind your weight gain so that you can make the necessary alterations to your lifestyle or even change it entirely. There is one other important thing you need to understand and that is the part the media and the food industry plays in your weight gain.
Food manufacturers, junk food outlets and other major sellers do not want you to be slim. For that reason, they spend billions of dollars a year persuading us to eat not only through advertising, but also through sponsorships and even in the sizing of their products (multipacks, two-for-one offers and so on).
Temptation is constantly placed in your path, for example those potato chips or chocolate bars conveniently positioned by the supermarket checkout counter, as well as in vending machines, in offices and airports.
One way to combat this is to train yourself to recognize when people are trying to persuade you to eat and to understand that you don’t really need to eat or drink what they are offering.
There is very little profit to be made from natural foods compared with the profit that is in what the industry calls added value foods i.e. the kind of over-processed, heavily promoted foods which we often view as treats.
Think about it: when was the last time you saw carrots advertised on TV? It’s almost always junk food or fatty foods or sugar-laden treats. You can live happily and healthily without all those things.
You also need to understand that this persuasion extends to those who are closest to you, including friends or family who may have their own reasons for not wanting you to lose weight. You need to be able to develop your ability to say no to them as well. And to make your own healthier choices which will, ultimately, benefit those around you as well as yourself.