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A growing - and very serious - problem for the world is the rise in weight of the population. Obesity has now become an epidemic, with huge implications for the future. Unfortunately, the problem is being exacerbated by our customary desire for freedom, yet our total lack of responsibility.

Our bodies originate from a very old "template"; we were designed, by nature, to be hunter/gatherers. We had to expend energy, in order to gain it from our food. However, with the rise of industrialisation and civilisation, we no longer have to fight for what we eat; we shop for it. With the advent and rise of supermarkets, as well as the "Welfare State", alongside other, technological advances, our food is no longer a matter of luck, skill and chance; it is all a matter of money and, even that need not necessarily be an obstacle.

Unfortunately, profiteering by companies (and individuals) has led to a dramatic change in the quality of our food. Whereas it was previously made with quality and value in mind, with the takeover of companies - for profit only - ingredients have been changed to favour profits, over nutritional content. Food is now supplemented with cheaper ingredients such as sugar, fat and salt, as well as artificial preservatives, colouring, flavouring and pretty much anything that will make it taste good, and encourage us to consume more, rather than be nutritious and healthy.

With social trends changing, our lives are becoming more sedentary; we no longer have to expend large amounts of energy, in order to do a great deal. Predominantly, people work in offices, rather than on the land, or even in factories and, during their recreational time, they prefer to sit in front of electronic devices, that do nothing whatsoever, aside from pacify us. We also have machines to do the labour-intensive tasks, which previously would have helped us to burn off those extra calories. Dining out is extremely social, and people are encouraged to consume more, because it makes profits for the companies that sell the rubbish we choose to eat.

There are food programmes on the television, advertisements with enticing photographs of some delicious-looking beverage or snack; there to entice the hungry, or just the plain greedy. People can be seen feeding from plastic packets; they fill themselves with high-calorie foods, at all times of the day - or night - despite that they may, already, be severely overweight, or morbidly obese. They do so because they can; there is no law in place that says you may not make yourself ill, by over-eating.

Despite all of our advances in technology, we have so many problems within our society - which we are neither acknowledging nor addressing - there are too many people who just aren't happy. And, increasingly, they turn to food to make them feel better. Whether it be the sticky bun, packed with carbohydrates and refined sugar, or the burger and chips, smothered in sauce, cheese and fat-enriched onions, we are on a downward spiral; a slippery slope to obesity, heart disease, Diabetes, Hypertension and an early grave. So much for technology and modern living.

During the Second World War, many people were healthier, because they didn't have the excess of fat, sugar and unhealthy foods. They had to eat vegetables, as opposed to fatty meat; the amount they had was strictly rationed, and there were no machines to do the washing, or even the washing up. How quickly all that has changed.

It is all too easy to be drawn into the mire of obesity; like old age, it creeps up on its victim. When young, it isn't that difficult to burn off calories that would otherwise sit around our midriff. A few games of football at the local park (if it hasn't been built on), or some running or even cycling, will keep the "five-arm flab" at bay. However, once work takes over from education, then the motor car replaces the bicycle, and a family looms in the not too distant future, the larger waistline - along with middle age - beckons.

There are, of course, pills, potions, fads and fallacies, which promise to help you shed those pounds, in double-quick time. However, nobody - yet - has come up with the "miracle cure" that actually works. Supplements (including herbal remedies and the latest "extracts" from some exotic plant or other), are a total waste of time. They don't work. Certainly, you can find "reputable" physicians, who are happy (for a price) to give their name to the claims made. The products make a fortune for those who invent them and prey upon the insecurities and follies of a race that wants to have its cake and eat it, yet remain slender enough to fit into the latest fashionable garments.

While we are young, our the human body can mostly cope with the demands placed on it. Even the excesses of alcohol, late nights, over work, physical exertion. However, we forget that, for most, we will grow old and this, in turn, brings new challenges.

So you want to lose weight. You think it is difficult. You cannot understand how you keep putting the weight on. You can never maintain a healthy weight. It cannot be your lifestyle; after all, you don't eat a lot, do you? Your metabolism has slowed down. However, contrary to popular belief, in the majority of cases, it is nothing to do with your metabolism, or even your age. It is what I term "The T and P figures": the take in and put out figures. The more calories you take in, the more you have to expend to lose weight, or maintain your existing weight. It doesn't get any more difficult than that.

There are numerous diets to be found, and there are reputable organisations who will (and usually do) help you to lose weight. Remember, though: "Diets Don't Work". Dieting will help you to lose weight,
but afterwards you have to keep the weight off. The only way you are going to do that, is by changing your lifestyle. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, you will require fewer calories to sustain you. If you consume more calories than you expend, you will gain weight.

Here is how to lose weight - and keep it off. It isn't that difficult, but it can be irksome, tedious and annoying.  It does take dedication and determination, but above all, willpower!

If you are unable (or unwilling) to move around more, then cut your calories. You should aim for between 1 and 3 lbs weight loss per week.

You will require plenty of willpower, but keep focussed on the outcome. Set yourself a goal (or goals), and give yourself rewards. Tell yourself of the health benefits, as well as that you will be and feel more attractive. Why not promise yourself a whole new set of clothes. That's a great incentive.

The diet I created for me has worked so far. You should aim to use the diet on 6 days and, on the 7th, you may have a high calorie day, enjoying whatever food you like. Continue this until you reach your
target weight, or until you reach what is termed a "plateau".

For breakfast, avoid sugary cereals; they will give you a "sugar rush", but that will leave you feeling hungry. Start the day with wholemeal toast, and real butter. Lunch should be at lunchtime, such as midday or 1 O'Clock. Unless you exercise in the evening, after work (or whatever you do during the day), you should not have an evening meal. Have some fruit (but not fruit juice). You can buy pre-packed (which have a calorie count on) from a supermarket. They are slightly more expensive, but you get an idea. A mixture of say pineapple, orange, grape, mango, apple, strawberries. If, after that, you are still hungry, try a raw carrot, or another slice or two of wholemeal toast and butter, but remember, this does give a lot of extra calories, with very little actual food. You will, though, be having fibre.

You may well find that you reach what is termed a "plateau". I reached one at 2 stones lost. However, do not be disheartened and certainly do not be temped to give up. As your body changes, it adapts to its new diet and tries to hold on to fat, because it thinks it is being starved. At this point, you may vary your diet; eat a little more, but still keeping calories low. Furthermore, you should feel more energetic and able to move about more. If you go for a walk, you will have to go further, in order to burn off the calories, because you are lighter. In this case, just go out for longer or try jogging and walking; you could always try carrying a rucksack filled with bottles of water. Either way, if you continue your new regime, your "plateau" will end. It will become more difficult to burn that fat, but it will come off eventually, with persistence and willpower.

As your stomach shrinks in size, you will also find on the high calorie day, you will need less to eat, because your stomach will have become accustomed to eating less. This is good news; it means to say you will be able to keep your portion sizes lower in the future, which will prevent you from gaining weight again.

The diet in short:

6 days - Breakfast - 2 slices of wholemeal toast and real butter. Lunch - 1 pot of real, fresh soup. This can be bought at most local supermarkets. It is fresh soup, not the type that comes in cans. There is a variety of different flavours, so at least you can vary what you have - average 300 calories. Supper should be light and not a meal; preferably fruit.
1 day- Eat whatever you want (within reason).
Total average: 1000 calories per day for 6 days

If you stick to this diet, you will lose approximately 3 lbs in weight per week, for a man. Stick to it until you have reached your "ideal" weight, then eat normally, but control the size of your meals. Calorie counting is not difficult. It is a matter of willpower. I know, because, using this diet, I lost 2 stones (28 lbs) in around 8 weeks.

Synopsis:

Sunday - Friday (inclusive): Breakfast - 2 slices of wholemeal toast and real butter - 350 calories<br>Lunch - 1 pot of real soup - 300 calories. Supper - fruit - 250 calories. Total average 1000 calories per day
Saturday- Eat whatever you want (within reason)

As you lose weight, your stomach will contract and, even on the "high calorie" days, you will want and need less food to keep you satisfied.

After several weeks, you will have lost a considerable amount of weight. However, you may reach what is termed a "plateau" a time when you don't lose any weight, despite your best efforts. Do not be disheartened. This is entirely normal and it is merely your body reacting to the changes you
have made to it. For a start, you will be carrying a lot less weight around with you, so moving will burn fewer calories. It may be time for you to vary the diet a little. Try moving your high calorie day. You can also make some days high calorie, while others should still be low. So long as you are consuming fewer calories than you are burning off, you will still lose weight. Don't forget, also, that if you are exercising, you will feel able to do more and also that exercise will burn fewer calories, as you reduce weight. It is all in the T and P figures: technically known as the "Take In and Put Out" figures. The more you take in, the more you have to "put out". Furthermore, you will also be replacing fat with muscle. Don't let your body's ancient design get the better of you. It is doing what it is supposed to: trying to save you! It believes it is being starved, so it will do whatever it can to hang on to that fat. This is termed a weight loss "plateau". You must now fool it into not behaving that way, which is where the adjustment to your regime comes in. As your weight loss continues, you will be able to increase your daily calorie intake, which will, in fact, help you to lose weight. So long as you are taking in fewer calories than you are expending, you will continue to shed pounds (or even kilograms). Keep moving about as much as possible. Change which day you have your high calorie day on. Alternate between high calorie days and low calorie days. You will soon break through the "plateau" and continue losing weight.

Weight loss is not just a diet. It is a lifestyle. Once you have reached your target weight, it is then about keeping the weight at bay. You will have to do this by changing your lifestyle. It is not difficult. Many people diet, lose weight, come off the diet and then wonder why they have put on more weight. The answer is simple: because they have returned to the lifestyle they had before they lost weight, which was the cause of their weight gain in the first place. Do not get back into your old ways.

What you must do is to change your lifestyle. Think about what you are eating. That doughnut at work, or the chocolates because it's someone's birthday. Think about it. Do you really need it? Why can
you not just say "no" and enjoy that someone has a birthday, without having to celbrate it for them by consuming sugar and fat? Once you start to understand your body, you will begin to realise that declining a treat is not denying yourself anything; it is keeping away from something you do not need, and which is not going to do you any good whatsoever.

You do not actually have to change your existing diet too much (aside from if you are eating "junk" food all of the time). Most people eat quite healthily; it is just the amount that they eat. Skip that fatty
snack; decline the sugary treat and discard the extra food that you do not need. That way, you will feel better about yourself. Weight loss is not about pleasing other people; it is about doing something for
yourself. You and you alone can do this, and it is for your benefit - nobody else's.

I nearly forgot something just as important: liquids. I am one of the "fortunate"; I gave up alcohol a few years ago. If you really want to lose weight, I would advise your doing the same. Alcohol is hugely calorific and must be factored in to your weight loss plan. Fruit juice must be avoided at all costs. Water is by far the best choise. Personally, I prefer sparkling mineral water, but it is up to you. Avoid caffeine (and especially "speciality" coffees. If you must have milk, always opt for skimmed). Count those calories. Get a pedometer, which will allow you to keep a track of roughly how many calories you are burning each day.

Above all, don't be disheartened; you will get there, and you will find changing your lifestyle much easier than you think.