I want to lose weight but have no idea where to start.  What should I do?  Before you try to make any changes to your habits, first you need to see where you are right now.  Find out what your body mass index (BMI) is.  See how it compares to a healthy weight.  Start keeping a record of what you eat each day and how much exercise you get.

Now people say, “Why bother?  I already know what I’m eating right now!”  But you really don’t.  Eating is something that we do every day without really paying any attention.  Once you start writing it down, you may learn things you never knew about your habits. You could be drinking five pops a day and have no idea.  Taking stock of where you are now gives you a sense of what needs to change.

The next step is really important.  You have to make a long-term commitment.  If you’re going to change your eating and exercise habits, you won’t be done after six weeks or six months or six years.  You have to decide that you’re motivated to make changes that will last for the rest of your life.  Which commercial diet books, programs, or plans really work?  Basically, almost any diet plan will work for weight loss.

If you want to lose weight, I don’t think it matters how you do it or what plan you use.  But to keep it off, you will probably have to use different strategies.