One of the most common New Year resolutions each year is to lose the extra 20, 30, or more pounds that we accumulated over the past years.  We start with good intentions, but it seems that every year we fail and add a few more pounds.  Why can’t we lose weight?  The primary reason for not being able to lose weight is the selection of methods to lose weight is wrong.  We put on weight from eating primarily sugar and carbohydrates which more easily turns into body fat than eating fat.  Most people think the solution is to eat less so a diet of fewer calories is tried for several weeks or months, and if we are successful losing weight, we congratulate ourselves and then go back to a way of eating that was in the first place responsible for the excess weight.  It’s a no-win situation.  In reality, calories do not count.  The type of food we select will keep us slim or leaner throughout our lives.  Mary Enig wrote a wonderful book which I highly recommend called, Eat Fat, Lose Fat.  Reducing our intake of sugars and carbohydrates, and selecting a diet adequate in proteins, fats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and berries, will give us a good intake of vitamins and minerals, and foods that are metabolized differently and will gradually reduce our weight without even trying.  It’s not the calories, but it’s how food is metabolized that makes the difference.  Excess sugars and carbohydrates readily turn into fat, the same fat that we are taught to avoid.  We have been led to believe by medical authorities that fat is bad for us when in reality fat is healthier for us than sugar and carbohydrates.  The whole story of fat being bad for us is a myth.  In the last 50 years with emphasis on a low fat diet including no fat, low fat, or a little fat, what has happened to the American population?  It got fatter.  43% of the population of America is obese.   34% of the population is overweight.  That means that 75% of Americans are grossly overweight.  Fat has nothing to do with gaining weight.  Not only do I recommend Mary Enig’s book, but I also recommend Dr. Lutz’s book, Life Without Bread, and the book by Dr. Davis, Wheat Belly.  Reducing our calories for a period of time to lose weight and then returning to the diet that caused us to gain weight is not going to accomplish a permanent weight loss.  Adopting foods that satisfy our appetite and increases our metabolic function, will initiate weight loss without much effort.  Go to my website at www.TerryTalksNutrition.com and click on “Terry’s Traditional Diet” for a more detailed explanation of how to adopt a new set of rules to permanently lose weight.