What is Helium

Are there easy ways to lose weight?

Results so far:

Yes		52%	654 votes	Total: 1267 votes
No		48%	613 votes	Total: 1267 votes

Yes

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That said, "easy" is a word that must be personally defined. Easy does not mean instant. Easy doesn't even really mean without effort. Easy is a simple word being used to define a complex process. In that way, I feel this question grossly oversimplifies a process that for many is a lifelong journey.

I've been classified "morbidly obese" which by medical definition means "more than one hundred pounds overweight". And - I've lost weight. Currently, my maintained weightloss is sitting at around thirty-eight pounds off of my starting weight.

I've been on this journey since the spring of 2004. Despite my many struggles, the emotional upheaval and complex psychological landmines I've had to navigate, I would say that yes, this process is an easy one.

It's easy, when I allow it to be easy.

Interesting thought, isn't it? We have complete control over how easy or hard the process is, and while it may sound cliche, there is one golden key: one SECRET if you will to easy weightloss.

Do you want to know what it is? Stay tuned, and I'll tell you.

Each one of us operates in a unique way. Each of us, as human beings, have different things that motivate us, that pique our interest, that make us feel happy and fulfilled. Each of us are driven by different things, and have different tastes. Our uniqueness is what defines us as human beings. Our ability to make choices based on personal taste, desires, and interests is what allows us to have a human experience on this planet.

If my best friend tells me she lost thirty pounds in two weeks taking a diet pill twice a day, and she feels fantastic, does that mean that I will lose thirty pounds in two weeks? Does it mean I will find success where she found success?

If my neighbor tells me that the latest protien shake when combined with light meals at lunch and dinner have enabled him to lose forty pounds that he has kept off for over a year, does that mean that it will work for me?

If I see an ad in a magazine with an amazing before and after photo for a product that promises to shed ten pounds in fourteen days, does that mean it will have that effect on me?

And when my sister loses one hundred pounds on the Atkin's diet, and has phenomenal blood test results, increased energy and sustained weightloss for over ten years, does that mean I will too?

The answer to all of these questions is NO. And yet, the possibility exists. Sure, the pills, shakes, products, or fad diets COULD work for me. They all sound SO easy. But they're not for me.

Why?

Because I LOVE to eat. I don't want to pop pills, I don't believe in them. I don't want to drink my meals. I LOVE my carbohydrates.

When the latest nutrition expert tells me that the ONLY way I can lose weight is to eat NO white sugar, flour, or potatoes, my answer is to tell them that only I know what works for my body.

When I watch television shows that show overweight people losing twelve pounds in a weak, I feel for them, because the reality is that to sustain weightloss, it's not about doing what anyone else says will work. It's about finding what works for you.

My weightloss is easy. When I struggle, when I fall down, when I lose ground, it's because I've stopped doing what I know works best for me.

If I try to do an exercise routine that I don't find legitimately enjoyable, I struggle and the journey becomes hard.

When I find an exercise routine that feels more like playing than working, suddenly it becomes easy.

If I try to restrict myself from having foods I love, ban certain things from my diet completely, or treat food as if it's something to be given to myself only as a reward, the journey becomes hard.

When I recreate my favorite foods by finding ways to make them with less calories and fat or have smaller portions of my favorite foods so I don't feel deprived, suddenly it becomes easy.

When I cave to societal pressure to reduce my carbs, obsess about my sodium intake, and stress about every bite of food I put in my mouth, then losing weight becomes the hardest thing I've ever done.

But when I honor myself, when I work with what works for me, when I find ways to eat more healthfully and be more active and have fun with it, well it's the easiest thing in the world to do.

In case you haven't guessed, that is the golden key: the easiest way to lose weight is to ask yourself what will work FOR YOU. And the easiest way you can find out what works for you is to educate yourself, and start telling all your well-intentioned friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family members that while you appreciate their advice, this is a personal journey and you'll find your own "easy" method to reach your goals.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Papez.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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by Ellen Bergstrom

INSTANT SECRETS TO WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS?

Have you gotten messages from people trying to sell you substances, pills, etc., that promise instant success, or success in a short time without changing anything else in your lifestyle? You know what I mean, keep on eating the same way, don't exercise just take this and you will lose weight. Some ads have claimed that Oprah herself used the magic pill. Have you seen Oprah lately? She is the first to admit she has regained her weight. And she has said if there were a magic pill, she would have it.

People never seem to tire searching for an instant answer to weight loss or any other problem they have. That is why drug addiction, alcoholism, food addiction, etc., are so common; and, unscrupulous people and companies who are willing to make a buck at their expense will continue to prosper. I am not preaching here as I freely admit to my own food addiction which began after I gave up smoking a number of years ago now. And I too would love an instant cure of some kind. The secret is there is no instant cure.

There may indeed be some good and healthy effects from a particular food substance or it being made into a drink. I don't claim to know everything about all of them. I do know however that even with the weight loss surgery, now using the lap-band method to close off a good part of the stomach, weight will return to those who continue to overeat and under-exercise. In short, those who do not want to change their lifestyle, which is what created the problem, will continue to see the results of that lifestyle.

Change rarely occurs instantaneously. That is something I have said before and want to share with others. But I never expect anyone to just take my word for it. I am all for questioning authority, finding out for yourself what is true and what is not true. Do not just believe everything I say, but do believe your own gut or instincts. Many of us are even psychic, yet we continue to fall for the instant cures because we are all vulnerable to it.

So if we can't change from 20, 40 60 or even 100 pounds of overweight to that great looking body we see advertised by simply sipping on some magic drink or potion, what do we have to do? Is it a lot of hard work and pain to change? Some say yes but I say no. Others are saying to allow it. Allowing, as proposed by some very wise people is indeed what it is about but allowing is more than just saying the word and then saying okay, I'll allow it. It is all about the holistic lifestyle, the body, mind and spirit approach.

Where you begin with all of this depends on you. If you have a lot of negative thinking, whether about yourself or others, you may need to start there. You may have to spend the time processing a past negative, unhealthy lifestyle. You can do this by yourself, but there are many wonderful teachers, coaches, etc. out there to help you. This is part of what I do as well. Sometimes processing this may involve a great deal of pain. I am able to assist you in finding the least painful way to do this, which is beyond the scope of this short article.

Once you have processed the pain and negativity, you release it. Releasing can take some doing as well, another process to obtain assistance from others. At this point is where allowing, let it happens begins.

I cannot give you a number, an amount of days, weeks or months as to how long to go from being overweight or obese to looking and feeling really great. There are many factors that influence that but the main one is you and your determination to succeed.

So what will you do today to live a more balanced, holistic lifestyle? When thinking of this keep in mind that you and I, all of us, are a part of a whole and what any of us do, think or feel affects that whole. A good start is by acknowledging everything you have at the moment. Your body is already beautiful and so you may need to just acknowledge that first. Feeling good about yourself as well as feeling good about others may be your first step. But always keeping in mind the whole of everything that we are all a part of is always the central idea.

If you chose to begin today, you may wish to focus, if even to meditate on that whole that in which you and everyone is a part as well as on how great your body is currently. Starting from a positive place is always a good start to success with anything.

I would love to hear from you whether you seek my services or just wish to let me know what it is you are doing with regard to holistic living.

Bright Blessings!

Learn more about this author, Ellen Bergstrom.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.