The Best Kept Secret of Weight Loss by Terri Main

As I watch the infomercials about weight-loss and as I hear "success stories" about losing weight, it seems like the definition of "success" is fast weight loss. "I lost 20 pounds in six weeks." I lost 10 pounds the first week" That sort of thing. Yet, national figures indicated that 95 percent of us who lose weight gain it back. If these diets were so "successful," why do we gain the weight back?

Research indicates that slower weight loss of a half pound to two pounds a week and preferably about a pound a week on average is the healthiest rate of weight loss and the rate most likely to be able to be maintained.

However, we are an impatient people by nature. I've spent most of my life in Church. And sometimes in church circles Christians joke about patience. They say "Don't pray for patience because the "trying of your faith worketh patience." We conveniently forget to add the rest of that passage which says, "Let patience have her perfect [or complete] work in you." One of the great spiritual benefits of weight-loss is the development of patience. Weight loss takes time, it isn't a straight line, there are weeks you lose and weeks you don't, and consistency is more important than momentary flares of excellence. Reminds you of life, doesn't it.

In some ways, the process of controlling one's weight reminds us of the process of controlling one's life. It requires discipline, self-control, consistency and patience. But we all know that patience doesn't come naturally to most of us, especially those of us who share a Western European or North American heritage. We live life in the "fast lane" and patience requires us to slow down and enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

Even the process of losing weight provides us with small moments of joyous revelation occurring along the way. Like last month when I realized that my thighs were no longer hitting each other when I was walking, or last week when I noticed that I hadn't touched or even wanted to drink the 2-Litre bottle of regular Root Beer left in my refrigerator after the Fourth of July celebrations. Or the first time I made it all the way through a one hour aerobics class. These are moments to cherish which will not come again, yet if I fume over the fact that i lost "only" a pound or half pound this week, I will miss the joys of the journey.

I'm a science fiction fan. I was watching Babylon 5 a couple of weeks ago on the Sci-Fi Channel. Marcus, a sort of interstellar knight errant, and Commander Susan Ivannova, career military, are talking about something and Ivannova mentions that a certain alien language, Minbari, is a beautiful language. Marcus says, "I could teach you." Ivannova begs off saying, "Oh, no, I couldn't. It would take me a year to learn." To which Marcus responds, "And how old will you be next year if you don't learn Minbari?"

It might take you a year or two years or five years to lose the weight you want, but how old will you be if you don't lose the weight? Often our discouragement with weight loss, comes not from the process itself, but from our own impatience with the process. So, here are a few hints on developing patience:

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BIO:

Terri Main is an instructor at Reedley College, Reedley California, and web master of The Get Real Weight Loss Web Site (http://www.getrealdiet.com). She has a master's degree in psychology and applies sound psychological principles and learning theory to create what she calls a "sensible approach to weight loss."

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The Eight Week Cholesterol Challenge by Barrett Niehus

Breath for Life by Mark Dayley

Natural Remedy for Cold Sores by Hugh Gillespie

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