| There seems to be something about dieting that | | | | 'I am going on a diet,' she happily declared. |
| makes people look for a magic solution. Everyone | | | | "What's the plan?" I asked. |
| wants to find a short cut. There is a multi-billion | | | | "I am going on the cabbage soup diet." |
| dollar industry providing quack solutions to the | | | | "What does that involve?" |
| world's weight problem. Many people seem willing | | | | "I've got the book. It's great. I shall eat nothing |
| to try anything to lose weight apart from the one | | | | but cabbage soup for a week and I will lose 12 |
| solution that we know works. | | | | lbs." |
| The crazy thing is we understand the physical | | | | "That must be a short book. Please don't do it." |
| processes behind weight loss very well. Scientists | | | | I was horrified. What kind of ridiculous, |
| have done a huge amount of research on the | | | | hare-brained scheme was that for losing weight? I |
| subject so we know how to lose weight healthily. | | | | asked her to reconsider. I told her it was |
| There is still more to learn but there is no | | | | unhealthy and she would do herself more harm |
| mystery about how to lose weight. It is a simple | | | | than good. I said she might even lose 12 lbs but |
| equation of calories in against calories out. If you | | | | for sure she would put it right back on again and |
| expend more calories than you eat, you will lose | | | | more. There was no persuading her. She had |
| weight. | | | | made up her mind. |
| There are many things you can do to help | | | | I saw her again a week later. She was very |
| balance this equation in your favour. It does take | | | | pleased with herself. She had lost 9lbs. She had |
| some discipline and will power. Probably, you will | | | | given up after six days because her skin had |
| need to make some changes to your lifestyle. | | | | turned a funny colour and her urine had an |
| The single biggest advantage you can give | | | | unpleasant odour. Still she was pleased. |
| yourself is to gain an understanding of the physical | | | | I saw her again two months later. She was visibly |
| processes that will take place in your body. Once | | | | fatter than before. She said she could not |
| you understand what is happening, you have the | | | | understand it. She had put all the weight back on |
| most important tool you need to lose weight. | | | | and more. I tried to explain to her how I knew |
| Believe me, as soon as someone does discover a | | | | this would happen. |
| magic secret to losing weight, we will all know | | | | She didn't like my explanation. It didn't give an |
| about it very quickly. Until that day comes, the | | | | easy solution to her weight problem. She had her |
| only healthy way to do it is the hard way. | | | | own plan. She was going to do the cabbage soup |
| A Quick Story | | | | diet again. |
| I was in the coffee room at my office when one | | | | That was when I decided to write this website. |
| of the women from downstairs came in. | | | | |