I have been very concerned about the increase of men and women who seem to have an obsession to lose weight. They try one weight loss program after another, until out of sheer frustration they decide to scrap all programs. Then they start the cycle all over again. Why do some people seemingly lose weight easily, while others seem to be struggling so much. I believe the problem starts in the mind, not with the body itself.

In other words, sometimes too much focus has been placed on trying to lose weight, instead of making a decision to lose it the healthy way. The mind has to go through a process before the mission can be accomplished.

There are so many weight loss programs available to the public. All of them promise positive results if the consumer sticks to the rules. However, there is a simple way to lose weight. It is so simple that some people do not even bother to think about it, or even attempt it. It is also the best way to lose weight.  The good news though, is that while being involved with this program, your health will improve, and you may never want to get off the program ever.

The first question that you should ask yourself is: Do you really want to lose weight? Then, are you prepared to discipline yourself to do what it takes to be successful? If your answer was affirmative for both questions, half the problem may be solved.

Let's begin the process.

It should be noted that the mind is the problem and the solution all in one. Decisions cannot be made independent of the mind. Actions start first with the mind. An individual thinks about something, the imagination starts a creative process, it is meditated upon for a period of time, then the mind makes a decision to get the body in motion.

With regards to food, the decision to eat begins in the mind. There are circumstances that stimulate the mind, such as hunger, the aroma of food cooking or the sight of food. This desire sends a signal to the brain through a stimulus.

The mind begins to think of a solution to solve the desire. It may imagine a nice juicy steak. Hot crispy fries. Delicious macaroni. It begins to plan how to get the meal. It is focused so much on the meal, that before you know it, you are eating it for lunch or dinner the same day. Then you begin to realize that that is the exact reason you are in the predicament you are in. You dream the wrong dreams, which bring about the wrong results. Yes, you are right.

The brain, therefore, needs to be reprogrammed to make the right choices. The real solution is to think what choices you need to make. Very few people love discipline, since it involves too much work. Instead of your mind responding to the dictates of the body, the mind needs to be disciplined enough to dictate to the body. Say 'no' to anything which is not good for you. The 'no' should be maintained, and not debated. The point is, once your mind is disciplined enough to say 'no' sincerely and passionately every time there is a temptation to reach out for the wrong food, you will begin forming good habits. It has been said that it takes at least twenty one days to form a habit, but I will add that it takes perseverance to keep it.

Well, you say, I can say 'no' to some things, but the others I just have to eat. Fine, go ahead then, because you need to admit to yourself that you are not ready to lose weight. You can stop reading at this point. I understand, at least you are honest. You do not have to agree with me anyway. You are permitted to consume whatever you choose. It is your body, and it is your right. However, you do need to prepare for the consequences.

What about eating what you really like in smaller portions? My belief is that the best way to lose weight, is to totally eliminate the foods that are not right for you anyway. Those are the foods that caused you to want to lose weight, so you need to see them as your enemies disguised as friends. These are the foods that are loaded with gluten, msg, salt, sugar, refined flour, hydrogenated oils and fats, animal products, dairy products and processed foods (including canned food). The beverages we should avoid include coffee and sodas. What did you say...those are all the foods you actually enjoy eating. How are you going to survive? you asked. Actually, you will just begin to survive.

I know it is not easy to eliminate your favorite foods from your diet. The reason it is so difficult is because your body has been trained to crave them. The law of attraction is in force. Our parents fed us these foods when we were babies. Our taste buds became familiar with them. We began to like them. We soon craved them. We habitually ate them. We anticipate eating them when hungry, or if we are just being greedy. We became addicted. You know the deal. Our thoughts became actions. Our actions became habits. Our habits became character. We therefore develop the characteristic of choosing these foods. Our character became our personality, dictating to us who we really are.

Our success in losing weight therefore begins and ends with our minds. We have to decide that we will never ever consume the foods that actually hurt our bodies. We also need to decide to replace those foods with the ones that help us to lose weight, and will also keep the weight off permanently.

Fruits and vegetables provide the vitamins and minerals that the body needs. The body absorbs phytochemicals which vary according to the color of the food. In addition, fruits and vegetables provide the ideal alkaline environment for the body to absorb the nutrients. Juicing these foods allow the immediate absorption. This explains why a patient ailing with disease may recover quickly when placed on a vegetable or fruit juice diet.

Fruits tend to have a high sugar content. The sugar combined with its acid can affect the enamel on our teeth. The sugar can also cause our blood sugar level to elevate to unhealthy limits. Some foods have a higher glycemic index than others. It is important to choose food combinations wisely for that purpose. This is particularly important for diabetics to bear in mind. A word of caution, also, is to ensure that our intake of vegetables is much greater than our intake of fruits. These foods also lose the potency of their nutrients quickly, so it is advised to consume them soon after juicing, peeling, cutting or slicing. This way the maximum benefit can be received.

Great foods to snack on include almonds, walnuts, pecans, and pumpkin seeds. Beans, broccoli, and other dark green provide the protein that our bodies need. It is a good idea to look on the nutritional information on packets to get an idea of the benefits to be received from each meal.

I look forward to writing a hub that provides the nutritional value of specific food. For now the videos below show some of the outstanding benefits of fruits and vegetables.

Since we have acquired the habit of eating foods that cause us to gain weight, the most successful way to lose weight is to have the will power to lose it. It has been said that the way to end a habit, is to form a new habit, that will replace the former habit. If your desire is truly to lose weight, you will need to develop the will power to start eating the right foods that will replace your desire for the junk food which actually destroys your body.

The foods and beverages that destroy your body are also fattening.  If you plan to  lose weight, it is best to choose a way you can maintain good health and so it's best to do it the healthy way. .

The foods that are good for us are naturally pure and unprocessed. These foods are the ones God, in His wisdom created for us to consume. Yes, you guessed it, fruit and vegetable juices, fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, grains, nuts and herbs. The organic foods are even better, because at least we are not consuming the additives, preservatives and other stuff that cause us to have allergies and other negative reactions. It has already been mentioned in a previously written hub of mine, that it has been proven medically that milk is responsible for many of our physical ailments.

Anyone who is trying to lose weight must also drink a significant amount of water. This helps to flush the toxins out of the body through our perspiration, urine, feces and tears. Water also lubricates the cells to keep them healthy. Since our bodies are composed mostly of water we have to replenish this water with a daily fresh supply for our tears, saliva, urine, blood and perspiration. The amount to drink is dependent on the size and age of the individual. The more active we are the more water our bodies require.

Exercise must be combined with healthy eating habits, otherwise we become defeated in our efforts. Exercise keeps our organs moving, and it rejuvenates our cells. Our cells are constantly being replaced daily, so when we exercise we increase the chance of maintaining healthy cells. If we fail to exercise we will soon become inactive. This is why after surgeries, it is recommended that we do not remain inactive while we recuperate. This inactivity retards the functioning of the body's organs and the body becomes sluggish. The consumption of fattening foods, slows down our metabolism, decreases our energy and increases the storage of fat. Exercise increases our energy and burns the fat. If we do not have an exercise program we need to start one. It is vital for our survival.

Our bodies also need sufficient rest. We go to bed late. We raise up early. We keep working hard during the day. We wake the next day and the cycle starts all over again. When God created us, He gave us night, for us to sleep and a day specifically for rest. If we abide by His rules our bodies will function as they were intended.

We need to make a decision to be master of our destiny to the best of our ability. The minerals and vitamins in natural foods is adequate for our bodies. They provide the oil needed to keep it moving.

I had the opportunity to attend a seminar held by a minister at my church. His testimony was that his mother died of colon cancer, so when he discovered that he also had colon cancer, he decided to do all in his power to get rid of it naturally. He began consuming vegetable and fruit juices, then he eliminated all the junk food from his diet. He was eventually healed of colon cancer. He refused chemotherapy and other forms of treatment so the medical field cannot take credit. In addition his vision improved to the extent that his eye doctor eventually told him he did not need glasses anymore. At the time of the visit he was seventy five years old, but he had a tremendous amount of energy, and he received a clean bill of health from his doctor.

I was convinced to change my diet. I was not overweight, but I had been diagnosed with high blood pressure about sixteen years ago prior to this. Medications made me feel worse, and I refused to become addicted to any of them. In fact, when my mother died my blood pressure became out of control. On the night before my mother's funeral, my head felt like it was about to explode. My cousin made me some garlic tea, which worked instantly. I felt completely relaxed and the headache was gone.

I had already eliminated dairy products, pork and beef from my diet. Now I had decided to give up chicken and turkey. I made a decision to eliminate the foods which were affecting my body negatively even ingredients sugar, salt and msg which were used to give food its flavor, but they were toxic, addictive and destructive to health. After consuming a salty meal one day, I was rushed to the emergency ward for medical treatment. Foods with a high sugar content caused me to feel real woozy . For the most part, I stopped cold turkey.

I replaced sugar, salt, refined flour products and processed foods with natural foods. Carrot juice was my favorite. I consumed it everyday at least twice a day. The more juices I made and consumed, the better I felt and the more weight I lost. I discovered fun ways to prepare meals with vegetables, seeds, beans, grains and herbs which had all the vitamins and minerals that my body needed. I ate fruits and vegetables raw mostly. Within the first week my skin became radiant, my face had a glow, my hair maintained a sheen, my energy level increased and my blood pressure was under control.

However, I did not realize that I would have lost so much weight. My clothes did not fit anymore. I needed to get a new wardrobe. I did not plan to lose any weight. People kept asking me what was my secret. I told them my diet had changed, and they walked away. They were not prepared to change their diet to lose weight.

We live in a microwave, get rich quick society. People want a quick and easy way of getting things done. However, anything that is done too quickly is likely to crash just as quickly. In order to lose weight we need to plan to do so, and work at it consistently, then we will be rewarded for the hard work.

Anyone who is prepared to do whatever it takes to lose weight and maintain good health in the process, should plan to change their diet, exercise, drink water and get sufficient rest. There is no quick fix way. Any instant weight loss program can actually cause us to suffer severe consequences. Let's just do what it takes to eat healthy and be healthy.