How I Lost 76 Pounds Without Weight Loss Surgery - Stop Eating Processed Foods is the First Key

The catalyst for my huge weight gain was when I quit smoking cigarettes. Of course I was always an emotional eater, but the cigarettes kept it in line and my weight did fluctuate, but never more then 10 pounds or so.

That was manageable until I quit sucking smoke.

And remember this, the cigarettes smoke, you suck it in.

I hit 294 pounds this past January, 2010 and seeing that needle approaching 300 really got me thinking about my health and appearance because not only did I look terrible and my clothes didn't fit right, I could hardly move or tie my shoes or get in and out of my car very well.

Once I decided enough was enough, I set up my goal and my plan. My goal remains 195 pounds and I keep getting closer and closer as each week goes by.

My plan started with throwing away all the processed food I had in the house and not buying anymore.

I describe processed food as any thing in a box, bag, can or other container, frozen or not, that has ingredients with names that you need a chemistry dictionary to read, pronounce and understand what they are.

The list of non-food items contained in boxed, bagged, canned or frozen foods is extensive. The best way to see them is look at any package you have.

The list of chemical names are scary and I doubt anyone will ever understand exactly what they do to a human's body. And the amount of sugar and salt contained in processed foods is practically criminal. My decision was, why take a chance, you don't have to eat them so why do it?

Processed foods can make meal preparation easier but at what cost? And, how much time is really saved? 10 or 20 minutes? Is that amount of time really important enough to eat foods with ingredients that sound like they should be in your cars upholstery, not in the food you eat.

I adamantly suggest that the first key to losing weight is cutting out as much processed foods as you can. And, even if you only want or need to lose 5 or 10 pounds, banning as many of the processed foods should be your first step. And if you can't afford the extra time needed to cook real foods, then at least try and find certified organic processed foods. They will have fewer chemicals and should be, (remember to read the label, just because it says organic doesn't mean it's perfect) far healthier for you and your family.

This will get you in the habit of buying more fresh foods and taking a little more time when preparing meals.

It's worth it, it will jump-start any weight loss plan you use and everyone else who eats your meals will be healthier. Research and science really don't quite understand how the different chemicals affect our bodies. And if nothing else, think about what you're feeding your children.

The author lost 76 pounds following the tips in this article and using a proven online weight loss program. You can have weight loss surgery results with out the surgery.

Following these simple suggestions along with a proven diet program can cause dramatic weight loss.