I want to know what is the easiest way to lose weight.  No Gimmicks!?  Of course I am overweight or I would not be asking this. I tried everything from working out to Atkins.  I am tired of being this way.

The body is a very complicated system, so it's hard to say why you are not seeing the results you want.  The majority of the time, when people fail to achieve results, it's because they are not exercising properly and/or are not eating as well as they should.  The first thing is to figure out what's going on with your body.  

Your answers to the following questions may shed some light on the problem(s).

• Are/were you on any medications?

• Have you done a lot of yo-yo diets?

• How is your sleep?

• How well are you digesting your foods? Are you having regular bowel movements, and do you go at least once a day? Do you evacuate with ease?  

There are reasons your body might not be responding like it should to exercise and eating properly.  (By the way, no diet alone will work, as a long-term solution.  Diets are quick, short-term fixes that eventually cause you to gain more weight.)  You must first figure out how your body's biochemistry works, and tailor an eating plan accordingly to that.  Some things you might want to consider: getting evaluated by a professional fitness trainer who really knows how to asses the body, and an NMD (naturopathic medical doctor) because your hormones might be off and need adjusting.

Nutrition is based on calories.  Concerns about portion size are WRONG ‹ the only thing your body needs from food is nourishment, so the fewer calories you can eat that will still provide your body with proper nourishment, the sooner you will begin getting healthier and back to a healthy weight.  Eating organic foods has been proven to supply anywhere from 40 to 60% more nutrients than commercial products, making it a much better source of nutrition.

You should choose from the wide selection of foods provided by Mother Nature, which means no processed foods, no fast food, no canned foods, no packaged foods, and no refined sugars or flour. Also avoid soy.  This may seem like a lot, but you asked how to lose weight ‹ and all of the foods listed above will keep you from losing because they are all different forms of junk foods.  In addition to changing your eating, you must give up alcohol; it is nothing more than poison, in any amount.  

Simple techniques for better eating to begin losing weight and feeling great:

> Eat 6 or more small meals per day.

> Eat small portions at each feeding.  For example, eat a palm-size piece of meat, and as many veggies as you want.

> Eat until your satisfied, not until you are full.

> Don't wait until you are hungry to eat, because by that time it's too late ‹ your are most likely not going to make a good food choice.

> Plan your meals according to the next few hours of your life.  For example, if you are going to work out, then eat more; if you are going to go to bed, eat less and consume fewer grains.

> Drink at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water per day.  For example, if you weight 150 lbs., consume a least 75 ounces of water in a day.  Water is a phenomenal way to detox the body and one of the most important nutrients for the body.  

Exercise steps to begin losing weight and feeling great:

> You must push yourself so that by the time you're done, you are sweating and exhausted.

> Hire a trainer to get the best results ‹ although you do need to do your research to make sure they are qualified, because anyone can become a trainer nowadays.

> Weight training has been proven to burn fat far more quickly and efficiently than any other exercise. To lose, fat you should lift weights at least 3 times a week.  Your weight training program should be a full-body workout in the beginning, and as you get more advanced, you can move to a different type of workout.  The workout should consist of from 5 to 8 different full-body exercises, like squats, lunges, pull-ups, push-ups, and so forth that recruit as many muscles as possible, which in turn, burns more fat and calories.  Perform 1 to 4 sets of each exercise, including 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise per set, without stopping.

> Cardio also is important to your total weight-loss plan, and should be performed a minimum of three 3 times a week.  Of course, 5 times a week will result in even you getting in even better shape and losing  more weight.  Interval cardio training is better then long runs.  For example, sprint as fast as you can for 1 minute, and then walk at a rate of about 3 miles-per-hour for 1 minute; then sprint again for 1 minute, and walk for a minute.  Repeating this pattern for a total of 30 minutes is a great form of exercise to get you in amazing shape.

If none of these suggestions work, you may have some more complicated issues that need to be dealt with.  In that case, I recommend you see an NMD, who can asses your hormones, nutrients, and other contributing factors.

The body is a very complicated system, so there isn't always just a simple answer.  Please visit www.personalpowertraining.net for further information to help you in your quest to achieve a slimmer, trimmer you.

NOTE: Always understand that the recommendation for you to participate in any exercise and/or cardio programs assumes you don't have any aliments that would prevent you from doing so.  Always consult with your physician before beginning an exercise program to make sure you are healthy enough to perform these activities.