Each participant was placed into one of four categories based on weight control method they used.

1. Increasing physical activity

2. Eating fewer calories

3. Combination of fewer calories with exercise

4. None (not trying to lose weight)

For those who were trying to lose weight, most common weight practices were eating fewer calories without other methods (32.3% of women, 24.1% of men) and eating fewer calories with exercise (33.8% of women, 19.9% of men).

Increasing physical activity as a sole weight-loss practice was reported by 3.4% of women and 4% of men.

The last statistic on exercising without dieting is where I get lost. It's hard for me to understand how only 3% of women and 4% of men use exercise as their sole weight loss practice. Is anything wrong with this?

Yes, we are wrong. The entire weight loss industry is wrong!

It all reminds me of a slogan from a few years ago, "Simply Weight Loss." It represented a return to diet basics. And that's when it hit me, a return to diet basics is what is wrong.

Dieting is Wrong

You're too heavy and you need to lose weight. The extra pounds pushing you above your ideal weight, resulted from a chronic state of positive energy balance...eating more calories (energy) than body needs.

This is your real problem. Not losing weight but gaining it is why we are faced with an obesity epidemic. Forget weight loss diets, you need a weight gain prevention diet.

But what about excess weight you have now? Of course you have to lose weight, but it's how you lose it that can make difference between keeping weight off and regaining it all back.

Lose weight and prevent weight gain at same time, that's your goal.

Weight Gain

Natural Weight Gain (age related)

As we age it's natural to gain weight. The main process involves a slowing of your metabolism due to a loss of muscle tissue. You know old saying, "Use it or lose it."

This is why keeping your muscles toned and strong is so important. When muscle is tones, nervous system constantly stimulates it at a higher rate. This means you need to expend more energy even at rest to keep muscle tissue from becoming fatigued.

Flabby muscle has very little nerve stimulation at rest. This results in a slower metabolism and possibly weight gain in future.

Bottom line...keep your muscles toned and strong and weight will not be an issue for you.

Weight Re-gain