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 healthiest rate of weight loss and 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 "trying of your faith worketh patience." We conveniently forget to add rest of that passage which says, "Let patience have her perfect [or complete] work in you." One of great spiritual benefits of weight-loss is 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, process of controlling one's weight reminds us of 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 "fast lane" and patience requires us to slow down and enjoy journey as well as destination.

Even process of losing weight provides us with small moments of joyous revelation occurring along 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 2-Litre bottle of regular Root Beer left in my refrigerator after Fourth of July celebrations. Or first time I made it all way through a one hour aerobics class. These are moments to cherish which will not come again, yet if I fume over fact that i lost "only" a pound or half pound this week, I will miss joys of journey.

I'm a science fiction fan. I was watching Babylon 5 a couple of weeks ago on 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 weight you want, but how old will you be if you don't lose weight? Often our discouragement with weight loss, comes not from process itself, but from our own impatience with process. So, here are a few hints on developing patience:

1. Celebrate today's success however "small." When I was doing a traineeship in psych counseling, I had a supervisor who had been a Navy captain. He had a white board in his office. On that board he drew an outline of east coast of US, Central and South America. Across from it he drew Coast line of Europe and Africa. He put a mark where New York would be and drew a line to west coast of England. He looked at me and said. If I were captaining this ship and I made just a one degree change in heading just after leaving New York Harbor look where I would end up." And he drew line to a point on continent of Africa. "Small changes maintained over an extended period of time have major results."

Before we get started, do you ever find yourself asking any or all of these questions:

· Why do I keep spending money on all these vitamins and not feel a thing?

· Why do I still get sick and continuously feel lousy?

· Why is it so hard to stay "consistent" when it comes to taking vitamins on a regular basis?

· Which vitamins does MY BODY need?

· Will I be able to live life to it's fullest as I get older?

· How do I know "For Sure" which nutrients I am lacking in my diet?

The "New Scoop" On Vitamins... Vitamin supplements may be much more important than doctors thought in warding off cancer, heart disease and ravages of aging—and, no, you may not be getting enough of these crucial nutrients in your diet!

Vitamins are a "Key" factor in warding off following chronic diseases:

ü Heart Disease

ü Lung Cancer

ü Bowel Cancer

ü Breast Cancer

ü Prostate Cancer

ü Osteoporosis

And,

The fact is: YOU probably aren't getting nutrients that you need!

World class nutrition experts have been recommending vitamins for more than 35 years!

"To take or not to take" is no longer question. ALL nutrition experts and most doctors support supplementation.

What To Take Is Now The Question... Optimal Health Journal lists many government surveys which state:

1. Our diets do not provide adequate levels of vitamins for AVERAGE HEALTH - let alone OPTIMAL HEALTH!

2. Of 21,500 people surveyed, NO ONE obtained 100% of recommended allowance for each of ten essential nutrients.

The prestigious journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) now recognizes importance of vitamins. It states:

"Most Americans do not consume adequate amounts of vitamins by diet alone.

...it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements."

The "Real Danger" In Overdosing on Vitamin Supplements... Did you know that your body needs specific amounts of different nutrients and that it can be harmful if you take too much of a certain vitamin?

Can you overdose? In a word - YES!

Overdosing can be more harmful than underdosing! For example:

1. In high doses, Vitamin C can act as a pro-oxidant causing rather than preventing cellular damage.

2. Taking too much Calcium can cause constipation and impaired kidney function.

3. In high doses, Iron can cause an increased risk of heart disease; also poisoning in children who take adult doses.

4. Zinc, in large amounts can cause gastrointestinal irritation and impaired immune function.

Which Nutrients Does YOUR BODY Really Need?

There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to vitamin supplements...

What nutritional supplements should you take? Answer that question, and go to head of class. People today are positively boggled by their choices...3,400 different supplements to choose from, at last count. Everyday you hear convincing arguments about why you should take each and every one of them:

v To prevent cancer

v Heighten immunity

v Lower blood pressure

v Increase energy

v Sharpen memory

v Reverse arthritis

v Build strong bones

You want all these things, so why not take all these supplements? For one thing, you'd go broke! Beyond that, you don't need them all! Taking too many might even hurt you! So, back to question: What supplements should you take?

With all different products on market today, how do you really know which vitamin supplements to take? Which ones should you be taking and in which amounts? That is question...

Even READERS DIGEST is asking: "Which vitamins do you really need?"

Natural Health Magazine goes one step further and asks:

"Are you absorbing enough nutrients?

Their answer: There's only one sure way to find out...

HAVE YOURSELF TESTED!

Top nutritional doctors use Metametrix Clinical Laboratory for nutritional / metabolic testing...

Which Vitamins Do The "Rich & Famous" Take To Stay Healthy...