How instincts make you fat.

If you've failed on every diet you've ever tried, it's not your fault.

Learn the truth about low-calorie and low-fat diets - and discover the only diet that works for natural, permanent weight loss.

The good food you eat on this healthy diet boosts your metabolism, controls your appetite, and improves your moods. And the healthy, nutrient-rich foods keep your kids from getting fat and protects them from diabetes.

This 5-page report is a must-read for anyone who struggles with their weight:

What Scientists Know about Low-Calorie Diets, but Your Doctor Never Told You

I can actually remember going on a diet with my dad when I was still in high school (it was called the Mayo Clinic diet, but I'm sure the real Mayo Clinic had nothing to do with it).

We ate eggs and grapefruit. We both lost weight (probably because of the diarrhea, but we don't want to talk about that). And of course, we both gained the weight back.

I've been out of high school for far more years than I'm going to admit. And for most of those years I was 10, then 20, then 30, then going on 40 pounds overweight. I bought lots of diet books, and was totally committed to losing weight every time I started a new diet.

I did lose weight, (then regained it, lost it, regained it - you get the picture). It's what most overweight people do all their lives.

For years, when I read the paragraph in each diet book that said you have to "believe you can lose weight" in order to be successful at losing weight, I skipped right over it. If they didn't tell me how to do it, it didn't do me any good.

But a year and a half ago my daughter gave me a book about neuroscience. It was "The Undiscovered Mind" by John Horgan, and it described some fascinating scientific discoveries about the brain.

It turns out that humans often make unconscious decisions that the conscious mind knows absolutely nothing about.

But when we 'wake up' and discover ourselves acting on those decisions, our conscious mind takes full responsibility. And makes up an excuse for the decision! The conscious mind always thinks it's in charge, even when it's not!

Addiction experts call it "denial," as though you have to be an alcoholic or drug addict to do it. But it turns out that everyone does it. It's the way the brain is built.

That's why you can eat a donut just a few minutes after telling yourself that you won't. And why you then hear yourself thinking "just one won't hurt." That excuse is what your conscious mind makes up out of thin air, when it "wakes up" and finds the donut moving towards your mouth.

Now, just knowing this doesn't make any difference, all by itself. It's just an interesting bit of trivia if you don't combine it with two other pieces of information.

The second important piece of the puzzle is found in books by modern nutritional experts, who have discovered why humans have such strong cravings for sugar and fat. That was what we discussed in Part I of this report.

The third piece of the puzzle is this: people have been practicing various forms of mental exercises, for thousands of years, to either rise above their instinctual desires, or to use their instinctual minds to improve their athletic ability.

These two things seem like opposites, but it's easy to see how closely related they are when you realize that Eastern spiritual masters who teach such philosophies as Zen Buddhism and Tai Chi are the world's recognized experts in both the field of "staying awake" and the field of "letting go." It all has to do with choosing when the conscious mind will be in control.

**The tools for changing the way we think about food have existed for thousands of years - we just haven't made the connection because obesity is such a modern problem.**

To me, that meant that no matter how strong our instinctual cravings may be, and no matter how self-destructive those cravings might seem, you can learn how to rise above them.

Note, I'm not saying that you can fight our instincts and win. You've spent your life fighting your cravings, and it doesn't make you thin.

No, you have to think in a totally different way.You need to be "awake" at the very moment when you're making a decision about what to eat, so your conscious mind can make the right decision.

Athletes have always been aware of how much faster the unconscious mind can act. So they train their bodies in long practice sessions, following all the instructions of their coaches. Then, when they're out on the court or in the ring, they can let their conscious minds "step aside."

They trust their unconscious minds to make the split-second decisions that are required to win. An athlete who can't do that, and who actually has to think his way through a competitive event, will never make it to professional level.

Athletes actually train themselves to do the exact opposite of what you need to do. Athletes let their conscious minds take a break during competition because they know that their unconscious mind will move faster, make instant decisions, and help them win the game.

You know for sure that your unconscious, instinctive mind will make the wrong decisions, when it comes to food. If that wasn't true, you wouldn't be overweight. So you don't want your conscious mind to give up control, during those few seconds when you are making a decision about what to eat.

You want your conscious mind, which actually understands the stuff you read in diet books, to be in charge.

Your unconscious mind is a great help when you're being creative, and when you're playing sports, and when you're daydreaming. But it's no help at all when it comes to food. Because your instinctive mind is hard-wired to make bad eating decisions in the modern world.

That means we need a different model to follow in order to train ourselves to think differently about food. We need to use the simple mental exercises that have been used for thousands of years to help people "stay awake."

Those exercises have been developed by spiritual masters who help people rise above all sorts of desires, so that we can live our lives completely "on purpose."

**Instead of fighting your cravings, (and losing), you can learn to rise above your instinctual desire for sugar and fat.**

You already rise above many impulses that pop into your head. All of us do. Because many of our natural impulses are not acceptable to the culture at large.

For instance, every child likes to touch and hold (and keep) shiny, pretty things. But when those things belong to someone else, she learns to leave them alone, because other people don't like her to take their things.

When you look at a beautiful piece of jewelry in a shop window, you may want the necklace, but you don't even consider taking it without buying it first. (OK, some people do, but I know you aren't one of them). With help from your parents and your society, you learned long ago to rise above your desires for other people's stuff.

But society doesn't teach us to avoid sugar and fat.

In fact, it's just the opposite. Even if you're obviously unhealthy because you're overweight, your friends and family will offer you fattening food. You can't rely on the outside world to help you overcome your cravings.

To prove my point, consider this: I work for a health insurance company, which pays the bills when our obese members end up with debilitating illnesses because of the way they eat. But my company brings us donuts for treats.

And on rare occasions they actually cater complete breakfasts for our unit, including fried eggs dripping in fat, deep-fat fried potatoes, sausage, and sweet rolls. If you're on a diet when they bring the goodies, the only thing you can find on the table that's healthy are the melon balls. And, remember, this is a health insurance company. If they don't support a healthy diet, why would anyone?

But the good news is that you can change the way you think about food, and become a member of the minority that isn't overweight.

The first step towards putting your conscious mind in control, and staying awake during the moments when you choose what to eat, is creating a positive relationship with your instinctive mind. You can't win the struggle with your cravings, but you can rise above them.

Learn more about the things that keep you from eating a healthy diet.

Jonni Good is the author of most of the original articles on this site. Jonni always looks for the easy way to solve common health problems, by working with human nature. Her books have helped hundreds of people lose weight, get fit, and regain their health - with less struggle. Please take a moment to visit her other sites:

Do You Gain Weight... Even when you eat less than your thinner friends? Learn why it happens, and how to use nutritious, satisfying food to break the metabolic pattern that causes some people to gain weight too easily.

Sugar Cravings and Addiction – Describes a simple program to help people break their addiction to sugar and fat. This book has been popular ever since it came out in 2003, and has helped hundreds of people lose their cravings for sugar and other simple carbs. Once the cravings are under control, it's easier to stick with your diet and regain your health.

Weight Lifting for Absolute Beginners – A guide to lifting weights for strong muscles and bones.

The Easy-Does-It Diet – A guide to creating your own delicious and healthy frozen diet meals. Eat healthy, low-fat meals without paying extra for store-bought frozen diet food.

Disclaimer: This site and the articles contained here are for information purposes only. The authors have made every effort to make sure the information is accurate, but no health decisions should ever be made based on this or any other website. Please contact your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.

How instincts make you fat.

I can actually remember going on a diet with my dad when I was still in high school (it was called the Mayo Clinic diet, but I'm sure the real Mayo Clinic had nothing to do with it).

It turns out that humans often make unconscious decisions that the conscious mind knows absolutely nothing about.

The tools for changing the way we think about food have existed for thousands of years - we just haven't made the connection because obesity is such a modern problem.

Instead of fighting your cravings, (and losing), you can learn to rise above your instinctual desire for sugar and fat.

But society doesn't teach us to avoid sugar and fat.

Newest Articles:

**The tools for changing the way we think about food have existed for thousands of years - we just haven't made the connection because obesity is such a modern problem.**

**Instead of fighting your cravings, (and losing), you can learn to rise above your instinctual desire for sugar and fat.**