Some of us need to lose more than others, but I think most of you -would agree -we all could stand to lose a fe-w pounds. You may also realize the older -we get the harder it is to lose -weight, one reason for that could be -we is not as active as -we use to be, I am sure there is other reasons, but being less active in my opinion -would have a big role in gaining -weight as -we gro-w older.

Did you kno-w 68% of Americans is over-weight? Its true and its not getting any better. As you might have guessed I am one of those in that 68%, but I am also one of those trying to get out of the 68%. I have had some success, but the problem is this is not something you do in one -week or even one month. The biggest problem I have is the fast food, as a matter of fact I had a sausage egg and cheese biscuit from a fast food restaurant this morning, saying to myself, -well I -will cut back on my next meal or even skip the next meal. -will I be able to skip the next meal, do not kno-w, haven't got there yet. I do not -want you to think I am not trying, because I am, but you -work so hard at losing the -weight, you just feel like you need to re-ward yourself every no-w and then. The problem seems to be you start re-warding yourself more no-w than of the then. Have you ever done that?

-what is it going to take to lose the -weight?

I think -we all understand being over-weight is detrimental to our health, being over-weight is linked to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stoke, heart disease and many other health problems. our health is a good reason to -want to lose -weight, but there is another reason, -we all -want to look our best and in my case that extra -weight is not helping. That's right the extra -weight hanging over my belt is not helping my looks one bit, but guess -what, I have lost 8 pounds, but my stomach is still there. I have lost -weight in my face and fingers and maybe a fe-w other places, but the stomach is still there. Have you been there yet? That is -why it takes longer to lose the -weight than -we anticipate, the part -we is -want to lose is the last to go.

Ho-w I lost 8 pounds in one month.

I'm going to tell you -what I did to lose the 8 pounds, but just because it -worked for me doesn't mean it -will -work for you. The first thing I did -was cut out the fast food, except for maybe once a -week. I started drinking nothing but -water, I no longer do that, no-w that I found a soft drink that I like -with no calories (coca cola zero). I -would eat the same meals I al-ways did, but I did cut out mashed potatoes and ate not bread at meal time. My -wife found some butter -with no calories and -we used that (I can't believe its not butter) I also used splenda instead of sugar -when I had cereal. That is ho-w I lost the 8 pounds in a month. There may be people reading this that may have different problems than I do so it is al-ways best to ask your doctor and nurses if you should start any kind of diet program.

-where do -we go from here?

I spend a lot of time on the Internet and as I -was surfing I ran into a diet that I found interesting. They use something called the shifting calories theory. They also talk about losing 9 pounds in 11 days, much better than my 8 pounds in 30 days. If you -would like to get more information on this plan you -will find a link in my bio at the bottom of this article. I -wish you the best, I kno-w its not easy, but its something -we all need and -want to do.

GooD LUCK!