Why?

Well, people on this island used to make their living by farming, growing bananas and coconut and lots of fishing. They used to walk everywhere, eat fresh fruits and vegetables and had lots of daily activity.

Now, with introduction of "western culture" and destruction of their normal behavior, islanders now drive to their computer jobs in mostly cramped offices and eat a diet of highly processed "prepared" foods imported from United States, Australia and New Zealand.

As you can see, exporting "American diet" of quick and easy processed food and lack of activity has taken a healthy and active island population, and turned it into a mini version of America, along with associated rates of obesity and disease.

--It's What You Don't Eat

You see, when losing weight, we're not only talking about weight loss, we're also talking about better health. It's hard to lose weight without taking steps to increase your healthy habits... right?

One of most important and effective ways to lose weight and get healthier is to avoid two groups of foods.

Both of these foods have been directly linked to deteriorating health and specifically weight gain and obesity. The unhealthy ingredients in these foods have steadily (and secretly) been used in greater amounts over last 20 years... and we haven't known it. More importantly, we haven't known hidden dangers of eating them.

The first group of foods to avoid are those that contain "Trans Fats".

Also know as TFA's or Trans Fatty Acids, they are found in partially hydrogenated oils... manufactured and unhealthy fats. They are a silent killer hidden in our food, and have been directly linked to skyrocketing rates of obesity in both adults and children worldwide.

The Center for Science in Public Interest reports that banning trans fats from all foods would save at least 30,000 lives each year in US alone. That's 82-274 needless deaths every day. The web site www.bantransfats.com shows an alarmingly clear statistical increase in obesity over last 20 years as trans fats have become a growing part of our American diet.

What happens when you're just minding your business and suddenly someone walks by with a delicious looking cake, muffins, or some other goodie you weren't expecting. You weren't hungry a minute ago but now you are suddenly ravenous. So you jump up and rush to get yours before it's all gone. After you get back to your desk and a few minutes go by, what happens? You suddenly realize you want more. Your stomach may be growling in fact. You can still see those muffins in your mind's eye. You want them. A few minutes pass while you debate, "I want another, No, I shouldn't, but, I really want one, they sure tasted good. If I don't hurry they might all be gone, what about your diet, who cares? I'm getting one," and off you go.

Frustrating, isn't it? All you need is a plan for when unexpected food suddenly drives you to eat. It's not like this isn't going to happen time and again, so having a way to deal with it, in that moment, is better than simply being swept up in wave of wanting. The old pattern of see food, want food, eat food, get angry about eating food, eat more to get over feeling angry, get angrier, give up, eat more. This cycle generally ends when you either pass out or food is gone. It doesn't have to be this way.

TV commercials also induce this see food, want food response, which is why so many people overeat in evening while watching their favorite shows.

Try this new approach using a technique caled EFT. It's effective in that it forestalls immediate pattern of jumping up and rushing to get a treat, and gives you a moment or two to think about what's happening. Realizing you want a treat is fine, and deciding to have a treat is fine too, but simply eating out of a primal see food/eat food response is not okay. You can move past that immediate driven response to food cues by using this approach.

Step 1: The Desire to Eat Unexpected Food

Do a round of EFT first moment you suddenly are struck by a desire to eat (when you weren't hungry or thinking of food a moment before):

"Even though seeing those muffins made me hungry, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I'm suddenly starving, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I want some cake (or whatever it is), I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I know once I start, I'll never stop eating all day, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I'll wreck my diet today, I deeply and completely accept myself."

Now, these statements make not appear to make much sense, but if you've used EFT in past, you'd know that a quick round of EFT on whatever it is that's first and foremost in your mind (the thing you want, despite that you wish you did not), is what you want to address. That's how EFT works. I don't know anything about my car's engine, but I can drive. You don't have to understand every nuance of EFT or why it works to use it. Just do use it. (For info on learning EFT see resource box).

Step 2: Spending Your Calories Wisely

First check out offerings by looking them over. Food, especially unexpected food, has to qualify before I'd even consider eating some. For me a food qualifies as special by how it looks, it's texture, taste, and whether it truly is "special." Does it appear good enough to spend my day's calories on? I do pay attention, and I know I have a certain amount of calories on any given day and I don't want to waste them. If food is ordinary (something I could buy myself any day of week), then more often than not I'll choose to pass, saving my calorie expenditure on something I deem more worthy.