I appreciated Oprah's honesty and wisdom when she declared, "I am never dieting again!"  Over the past 25 years, we have all watched Oprah lose weight and regain it in a short time.  Remember she lost 64 pounds on the liquid, 500-calorie Optifast diet and regained her weight within weeks?  Oh yes, over and over, her trainer Bob Greene (not a nutritionist) prescribed a low fat, low calorie eating plan in combination with over-exercising.  Sadly, Oprah followed this very harmful plan that robbed Oprah of her basic metabolism.   Less is not more; less is just less-less nutrients to support health and less nutrients to support metabolism.  Today Oprah may be asking herself why it is so much harder for her to lose weight.  Have you asked yourself that question? Perhaps you have done the low fat, low calorie and over-exercising plan, and now it is time to take back your body, heal your metabolism, restore your energy and balance your moods.  Over 95% of people who followed the traditional low fat, low calorie diets find themselves at their starting weight or heavier a year later.

     For the past several years, I have read almost all the current and past research about weight loss and metabolism and attended many seminars on these topics.  You should see my collection of weight- loss books!  Last January when I decided to get serious about losing weight, I knew I needed an eating plan that was simple, easy to follow, based on real food and that would support my very active lifestyle and work hours.  I am happy to say that I have lost over 40 pounds this past year with an average of ¾ of a pound per week.  You might say to yourself that ¾ of a pound a week is not fast enough for me, but we have a saying in our Nutrition 4 Weight Loss class, "The slow easy pace wins the race".  In 2 years, ¾ of a pound per week will add up to 80 pounds-without the fear of falling off the plan and regaining all the weight back.  Many of our Nutrition 4 Weight Loss class members have lost 1 to 2 pounds per week and report better energy, clearer skin, less digestive problems, more positive thoughts, and fewer cravings. 

     As Oprah has come to realize, weight can't be reduced to one simple equation:  eat less + exercise= weight loss.   It may work in a laboratory setting, but not in real life.  If it did, 67% of the population would not be overweight.  

     I believe the plan that has worked for me will work for you.  It is a rather simple plan.  Eat 5 to 6 times a day and include animal protein, vegetable carbohydrates and healthy fats each time you eat.  Eliminate processed carbs and sugars.  Stop drinking soda, start drinking water, plan your meals, and sleep 8 to 9 hours per night. 

     My goal for the Nutrition 4 Weight Loss plan was to create physical and emotional wellness from the inside out.  Wellness to me means feeling great in your body, mind, and spirit; real, permanent weight loss, the type of weight loss Oprah is seeking, can only be achieved if you are well.  In the past with our Weight and Wellness classes, we targeted wellness as our goal, and weight loss was often a happy side effect.  Today, with so much emphasis placed on weight problems, the Nutritional 4 Weight Loss plan targets weight loss so people will make the necessary nutritional changes to achieve both weight loss and wellness. 

     I look forward to continued wellness in 2011 and have appreciated finding the answer for my own metabolism issues.  I invite you to take back your body, lose weight and achieve wellness.  The old theory of calories in and calories out for weight loss is an oversimplified plan that is based on the same old plan that repeatedly failed Oprah.  The Nutrition 4 Weight Loss plan is based on the new science of weight loss; an approach that addresses insulin resistance, adrenal stress, reduction of cravings, and eating real food to boost metabolism.  Simply stated, change your nutrition to change your weight and wellness.