If you came here looking for the magic pill or the big secret I am sorry to say there is none. As any of my weight loss friends will tell you there is one and only one tried and true solution to the battle of the bulge: eating right and exercising.

Notice I didn’t use the word “diet”. It is a dirty little four letter word that we all need to ignore. This isn’t about going on something temporarily to lose a few pounds. If you want your weight loss to last you need to change your lifestyle. You basically need to start by re-teaching yourself how to eat. There are several different sources out there to help you learn how to eat right. Personally I prefer ones that are balanced with lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meats. You just need to be careful that you aren’t too restrictive so that you aren’t getting the right nutrients or you end up going off the deep end and going after an entire case of ice cream because you are dying to eat some chocolate. Your doctor can help you find the right program for you.

My personal choice was to join Weight Watchers. I was able to lose 86 lbs using just their online program and more importantly it taught me the importance of portion control and a well balanced diet. Since it worked for me it will work for you right? Not necessarily. Finding the perfect eating plan is like finding the perfect pair of jeans. Just because I look good in a flare leg doesn’t mean you will. I would suggest doing your research and asking your doctor so that you can find the one that works the best for you.

In my experience, and that of several friends, weight loss is about 80% eating right and 20% exercise. That doesn’t mean you should leave out the exercise part. If your doctor gives you the okay I would definitely suggest adding exercise as early in your program as you can. Start slow, even if it is just 5 minutes a day, and build up. It is so worth it. What kind of exercise? Again it depends on what you enjoy. You just want to make sure you don’t get bored with your routine and end up quitting.

@TO-DO@ The FIRM, Volleyball, Running