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This subject has got to be one of the biggest topics ever in the history of self-help. It’s no surprise that you are reading it here on this site. I will be discussing why people gain weight and how someone can lose it. Some of this advice you have probably already heard before and some of it will be completely new. Enjoy.

Why some people gain weight
Refined Sugars & Carbs. People gain a lot of weight simply because they consume to many complex carbohydrates. Your body doesn’t know what to do with all those extra carbs except store them for a rainy day. (Which never ends up coming and so you end up with more and more excess.)

Low Activity. American society is getting more and more conveniences everyday. There is absolutely nothing wrong with conveniences- except you have to keep in mind that back when we were cavemen we used to run around and hunt for our food. We did a lot of activities that naturally kept us in good shape. Guess what? Our bodies take a LONG time to evolve and most of us still require that kind of activity to keep us trim and lean. Now, our food can be delivered to us while we work at home in front of computer all day.

Emotional Issues. For some of us this problem can be even worse. A person may have decided to subconsciously put on weight as a protection against abuse. This has been the case for some women who have been raped. On the other hand, a person may have been lead to believe that they were no good and the side effect of that meant they put on extra pounds, because depression can slow down metabolism. Also, food can be used for pleasure when the absence of physical contact is not there or when someone is under a lot of stress.

Poor Self-Image. In my honest opinion, a poor self-image can do a lot of bad things especially cause weight gain. It has been proven then when a person’s mind is focused on all their bad traits it causes things like their metabolism to slow down, and hormones go out of balance. Whether the poor self-image came before or after the weight gain doesn’t matter. The side effects of a poor self-image will always make things worse.

Other abnormal bodily conditions. There are all kinds of conditions out there that can lead to weight gain. I personally don’t know of any of them that might be incurable, and if they are- that just means they have to be cured from “within”.

Ways to go about losing weight
Just as there are several ways to gain weight there are plenty of ways to lose it. Trust me, where there is a will there is a way. Try at least 3 of these things here I recommend and you should hit the ground running. There are pros and cons to each method which I will go over as well. Remember, this is just a brief run down of what you can do.  Make sure you do your homework and follow up with your local doctor to find out what is best for you.

Eating Less. Simple method right? You bet. You can go about eating less in all kinds of different ways. Try to go about it in a way that is comfortable to you yet slightly challenging. Eating portions only as big as your fist is a good place to start. Some people I know like to graze throughout the day only eating a tidbit here and there. Though counting calories may be little old fashioned, I’m told it can still be effective as well.

Pros: You pretty much keep eating whatever you like.

Cons: You have to eat smaller amounts and that can be challenging. Depending on your health conditions you may find this even more challenging if you have something like diabetes. You may want to consult your doctor before trying this.

Working Out. Getting more active is a for sure way to really shed those pounds and inches. If you find yourself burning more energy than you put in you should see results in no time. There is absolutely no excuse to not become more active. ANYONE can do it. Here are some recommendations:

Getting A Personal Trainer. This is on the top of my list because I have had experience working with one before in the past. In the hands of the right trainer, your body will reach new levels and you will also learn a TON too. Trust me. If you have the extra money, a personal trainer will be an excellent resource to your goals. It can be fun having someone who can push you and make sure you doing your exercises properly. Also, in my opinion, people who are working with a personal trainer are more than likely to stick to it longer.

If you’re short on money but still want to workout there are plenty of ways to go about it. There are tons of aerobic videos out there and workout tapes. Running is also another good way to burn off some weight. If you prefer to pump iron then go for it. You may be putting on some extra weight at first as you build muscle, but you’ll soon find that your metabolism will start to go up and you’ll lose weight.  With whatever workout programs you choose, just make sure that its geared to getting you the specific results you’re looking for in your body. For example, if you were to lift like a power lifter you would soon look like one. If you want a body like a super model you want to do the workouts they do, and if you want to look like Mr. Universe than you need to find out the type they are into. It’s that simple. So don’t just mindlessly start working out. Do your homework and you’ll be happy you did. There are a lot of books and information on the web on working out and what type of exercise programs do what.

Pros of working out: For long-term performance working out leads to some of the best results than anything I could recommend. As your body gets older working out will insure that all the muscles stay functional. When parts of our bodies aren’t used frequently than they actually start to break down. That old saying “Move it or lose it” is very true. Other pros are looking and feeling better. Working out increases energy levels after enough consistency. Fat starts burning up, and metabolism even starts to rise.

Cons: You have to set some time aside to work out. ( Which in my opinion is totally worth it. ) Working out can also be annoying at first, especially if you’re totally out of shape. (Trust me it actually gets pretty fun later on.) You may also at first start feeling yourself wake up in the morning with soreness. This lessens or totally stops after some time.

Diet Pills. I’ve heard a lot of mixed thoughts on diet pills. What’s my opinion? They are great when used properly. Getting advice from your doctor first is a good idea and following the instructions on the label is also a must for safety. Under the right circumstances diet pills can be used in conjunction with working out/dieting or totally by themselves to achieve the desired results. It all depends on what your health looks like, and how many pounds to determine if you’re a good candidate for diet pills. I’m not going to tell you if it’s right or not for you; however, I would advise you to check it out. I have used them in the past and they worked GREAT, and I’ve known some other people to use them and get great results.

Pros: Can really boost your energy levels which makes for better work outs and more productive days. Some of the herbs in some of the diet pills suppress appetite which actually cause you to eat less.

Cons: I’ve known some products to cause jitters or become addictive. Some products may not be good as they can cause a conflict with other medications or health issues. Just make sure you consult your doctor.

Water, Fiber, Vegetables & Fruits. It sounds like every health professional and doctor have been agreeing on the same thing for years. We Americans need to be eating more of the green stuff and drinking water. Vegetables & Fruits contain fiber and the nutrients necessary to cause your metabolism to speed up and also cause you to recover faster from working out. Fiber also helps to keep your colon clean which makes your energy levels soar. Your body is also made up of mostly water. Water is vital for chemical processes such as metabolism and the bodies natural detoxification.

How to go about it: Adding water, fiber and vegetables to your diet might be easier than you think. Just take baby steps at first.

Water- Try drinking a full glass in the beginning and then at the end of your day. (Filtered if possible, because chlorinated water kills off the good bacteria in your body.) You then might want to try replacing every drink you drink with a glass of water instead. By then you should start noticing results -like more energy and even clearer skin.

Fiber- There are lots of fiber products you can get at GNC. Try some and find your favorite. Many of them you can add to your favorite juices and teas. Remember don’t over do it. If you do, you may find yourself in the bathroom more than you like. Many experts agree that it’s better to up your fiber intake gradually instead of suddenly. Most agree that 21 - 38 grams is the recommended intake amount. You may want to ask your doctor.

Fruits & Vegetables- You may find these guys a little bit more tricky- however they can be slowly incorporated in your daily foods as well. Try starting off with a big bowl of salad just sitting near you. Munch on the greens here and there through out the day. If you are at work, pack a salad with you, get the green stuff on your plate when you are in the cafeteria or if you going through a drive through order a small salad instead. When you are at home, try getting a small salad going with every dinner. If you’re like me and really want to make things easier -then  get yourself a juicer. You can get a lot of nutrients from the simple drinks you make out of juicer. Plus it can be easier to chug down a veggie drink then it would be to munch them down. I’ve also come to find that many of these drinks taste really good when the right ingredients are added.

Liposuction. I am all for liposuction if that is something you want to do. Keep in mind it’s highly recommend you try to lead the healthiest lifestyle you can though. Liposuction in conjunction with some of my other recommendations can be an extremely wonderful tool in getting your body to the place you want it to be. As you may or may not know, liposuction is not for everyone and only your doctor can tell you if it’s right for you. My best advice would be to make sure the professional you choose has been doing it for along time and has a high success rate. Ask to see as many before and after pictures as you can and see if you can talk to previous clients of his.

What are some other non-conventional methods can you take? Well, there is a lot of stuff you can do. Above all else, try to visualize yourself with the body you want. Also make sure you look in the mirror and talk to yourself in a good way everyday. Tell yourself that you love yourself. I’m serious. Talking to yourself in a positive way out loud can help you out tremendously because your body will start to work with you and respond better to what you are trying to do. Just take me on blind faith on this one. It’s not going to hurt you to look in the mirror and say “I love you.” You may not believe it at first, but keep on saying it at least 10 times everyday in the mirror. You’ll start feeling more at ease, and when your feeling more at ease things tend to get easier in life.

Will you always be overweight?  Only if you believe yourself to be doomed to be overweight. Then yes you will be. If however deep down you’ve got a desire to be something more than what you are right now- then you’ll lose the weight.  I promise you will find your way to that desire. I would recommend to keep your focus and keep on looking. If you believe there is a way then the Universe will eventually make a way for you. Good luck my friends!