Anyone can look on the internet and learn HOW to lose weight. The how and the what are all easy to learn. If people understand how a proper diet and physical fitness help keep them in shape, then why are we facing an epidemic of obesity?

There are hundreds of websites....thousands...that talk about a "wonder drug" you can take to miraculously shed the pounds. There are diet programs everywhere you look telling you to eat whatever you like, but stay within this point system.

We see the before and after pictures of overweight men and women who are suddenly cut and trim in the next photograph, supposedly after using their "proven" system.

So why is America STILL growing? Why are almost 20% of our children overweight...12% obese?

What would happen if I told you that by not drinking that canned cola, you could spare yourself 120 calories today?

 That information would probably go in one ear and out the other, right?

Now, what would happen if I told you (depending on your weight and height) you should only be eating, let's say, 2000 calories per day just to stay at your current weight?

 It's all still numbers at this point. What does 2000 calories really mean?

Ok, let's say you eat like many Americans eat and have the following over the course of one day:

1 - Bowl of Cereal w/ 2% milk - 250 calories
2 - Cups of coffee with sugar and cream - 50 calories each (100)
1 - Morning Coke - 140 Calories

1 - Quarter Pounder - 510 Calories (don't even THINK about the double)
1 - Supersized Frenchfry - 570 Calories
1 - Large Coke - 200 Calories

2 - Afternoon Cokes - 280 Calories

Look at that. Before dinner, you've already had 2,050 calories. That number is only IF you did not have some sort of midafternoon snack like a candy bar (had to have that King Sized Butterfinger? Add 350(!!!) calories, please).

So what. So what if you have 2600 calories each day? Your body stores any calories it does not burn. So, assuming that 2000 calories everyday is your "optimal" daily intake; you will gain ONE POUND every 5 1/2 days. Every week, in otherwords, you will gain one pound*.

That also means that if you want to BURN those calories, you have work the body that much harder in order to overcome the excess caloric weight. Cutting just 500 calories from your diet (THREE COKES PER DAY) will help you lose 1 pound per week! 

* 3500 stored calories translates into 1 pound of weight gain.