Forget Your Failed Attempts and Lose Weight Now

The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States is over $150 billion annually and obesity-related health conditions include some of the leading causes of preventable or premature death. Forget your failed attempts and ignore your past mistakes. If you tried to lose weight and it did not work, forget everything except what you need to do now and do it.

Try something new but never give in. In the future, weight loss plans might need to include treatments and therapies that promote self-control over cravings for unhealthy foods. The secret to losing weight is not a new fad diet, it is not a new surgical procedure, it is not a new diet pill, it is not a dietary supplement, it is your state of mind. So, never give up.

• Don't Keep Yourself Fat - Promoting the notion that genetic factors cause obesity may increase one's genetically-deterministic beliefs and decrease one's motivation to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
• Be Kind to Yourself - Setting goals, making lifestyle changes, and working hard to achieve them is all about having the positive reinforcements in place to reward yourself with a (non-food) guilty pleasure like a special spa day.
• Move More in the Morning - Physical activity and exercise has been proven to boost production and release of an important brain chemical called endorphins. These neural transmitters improve mood and help you better manage feelings of hunger.
• Set Attainable Goals - Maintain the same patient, progressive approach to your day as you do with your diet and exercise. Starting out in a whirlwind may look impressive but it can quickly derail your progress.
• Understanding Obesity - Obesity is a disease and it should be treated as such. That's why it is important to work with a weight loss specialist or dietitian to personalize a menu plan that's right for your body.

With more than 45 million dieters each year, you would think that Americans would be diet professionals by now. Unfortunately, the majority of all diet plans fail. Most of the time, it is the thought of food (food cravings) that convinces you to eat stuff that you shouldn't eat. Nevertheless, losing weight is just as much about controlling how you think as it is about the foods you consume.

If you are a between-meal grazer, make a rule that you "fast" between your morning and evening meal as well as your evening and morning meal. You brain also takes charge when it comes to how much body fat you're toting. The brain can release leptin hormone to decrease your hunger or ghrelin hormone to produce feelings of satiety.