Here’s the secret method, come a little closer  - THROW AWAY YOUR SCALE!!!
OK, now I’m whispering for effect, I know you can do it. It’s all common sense. Exercise, burn calories, lose weight. Why am I writing like a caveman? Strange.

First, throw away your scale for one year. And please, please don’t weight yourself. This is the really important part, exercise regularly. I sound like your eighth grade gym teacher but it’s true, there are no secrets other than, exercise regularly.

Here’s a list of things that might help you: 

• Start.
• Just start.
• Start today.
• Start small.
• Ok, no more fooling around.

Here it is:

• You need a plan. 
• Make one.
• Keep it simple.
• Use your own personal “body” knowledge.
• Body knowledge defined as: “what you have learned about your body as it relates to eating, exercise and life.” 
• Create a plan which is achievable but challenging.  
• Like: walk a quarter mile, five days a week for eight weeks.
• But walk quickly with purpose. (I averaged 14.14 minutes per miles over 300 walks last year)
• After eight weeks of walking, adjust the distance especially as your strength and stamina increases.
• Track your results with a calendar or technology 
• I like Nike+ with my iPod or FitBit looks good too 
• Stick with this simple plan for one year.
• Yes, ONE YEAR this is the secret part – ONE YEAR. 
• And please do me and yourself a favor, don’t change anything else for the first year just workout. 
• Walking is great but do whatever you like and whatever keeps you engaged.
• I like walking, being outside and listening to music. (Sounds like a dating service – Mike likes sunsets, romantic walks and margarita’s on the beach)
• Exercise four or five times per week. 
• Five is better than four. 
• Build up to it especially if you haven’t exercised for awhile.  
• OK, it’s the second year. 
• You can change your diet if you wish
• But keep exercising. Increase the distance if it feels right.
• Now, make a long term plan: walk 4000 miles in five years.
• 4000 miles over five years. 
• Is he crazy? Yes, I said 4000 miles. 
• 800 miles per year.  
• 66.7 miles per month. 
• 16.7 miles per week. (this is based on a 5 day workout week)  
• 3.4 miles per day. 
• See, only 3.4 miles per day, five days a week. 
• No, I’m not crazy and you can do this!
• Build up to it gradually.
• And see your physician first, before starting.
• The results: weight controlled naturally and simply. 

Everybody can lose weight for short periods of time but the secret is keeping the weight off over a life time.
This is a great article over at “Really Useful Fitness Blog.” 

5 Steps to Losing 20 Pounds (The Simple & Healthy Way): 

“Cutting calories drastically might help you lose some weight but it’ll slow your metabolism and set you up for long-term failure. A much better approach to losing 20 pounds — in a safe, healthy, simple, and relatively easy way — is to follow the 5 steps outlined below…” Just remember this very important rule: Starving yourself is not the solution! 

Now get started, go slow for success and keep it simple.
And give yourself a break, by giving yourself some time. Find a friend, a workout buddy or go it alone but start. Start today.

MikeZ – “I’ll sell you this program, if it will get you to do it but it seems pointless”