The "Secret"

Some people have been asking if I have a weight loss secret.

Since late November, my wife and I have lost a fair amount of weight - about 30 and 34 pounds, respectively. People want to know if there is a special pill or diet that has accomplished this, something that makes weight loss easy.

I wish there were.

Our three "secrets" are:

1. We gave up colas and all other caffeinated drinks.
2. We eat only about 1,200 calories a day. (I stick between 1,200 and 1,400.)
3. We go to the gym daily.

No cabbage-only diets. No belly fat medicines or miracle machines "as seen on TV." Just hard work. In the beginning, we used one of those digest-sized books that list the calorie content of virtually everything, but I bet we haven't looked at it in over a month. Now that we know what's good and what's not, we eat to maximize the calories we're allowed. This means no snack foods and no super-sized portions.

The good news is that if a schlep like me can do it, anybody can. But nobody can tell you it's time. That's something you have to decide for yourself. Once you commit, the rest is -- well, not easy, but at least easier.

The hard part comes when you have to keep the weight off. And there is no secret that makes that any easier, either.