When It Comes To Weight Loss, One Size Fits All

By Michael Applebaum, MD, JD, FCLM

James Frazer was a Scottish anthropologist.  His magnum opus, The Golden Bough, described an evolutionary sequence wherein simple primitives exemplified the early phases of social development through which modern societies were thought to have passed long ago.

According to his model of progression, humankind passes though three stages: magic, religion and science.

When it comes to health and fitness, we are a society still in its most primitive stages.

Generally accepted fitness advice remains predominantly in the domain of the conjurer.  The tricks of the magician’s trade: powders, instant results and making nothing from something (Poof! Disappearing weight) are the standard beliefs of the loser weight loser.  Almost all weight losers are losers at it.

Despite the overwhelming evidence that science provides the principles to weight loss and training tolerance, people still pooh-pooh the truth.

Ask “Why?”

Confusion is one answer.  The more powerful among us: the media, the corporations, even the government all conspire to confound the issue.  Their weapons of choice are the same as the prestidigitator’s: misdirection and sleight of truth.  We are captivated by their magic.  Like deer in headlamps our brains freeze at the magical images of fat and ugly transforming caterpillar-like into thin and beautiful butterflies.  In only 10 to 60 seconds!

In the country of the blind, the one who can see is king.

The powers trying to assassinate us with every bite we take, see the Truth.  To prevent us from seeing it, these powers confuse us with the misdirection of authoritative sounding techno-babble, sophistry and syllogisms.

The media, the corporations and the government all take from us.  Besides out money, they are taking our lives and our enjoyment of life.

The assassins in every bite confuse us by lying about what works.  By telling us that there is no one way, unless, of course, it is their way.

Here is the Truth about weight loss.  There is one way and there is only one way and it is the one way of the entire Universe.  It is a fundamental Law of Thermodynamics.  It is a fundamental Law of Physics.  It governs planets.  It governs atoms.  Like it or not, it governs you.

Ready?

To lose weight (without amputating a body part), you must expend more calories than you consume.

There is no other way.  This one simple, basic truth is it.  No more, no less.  And it goes for everybody.  One size fits all.

So evolve.  Start walking on your hind legs.  Get past the belief in magic and for the sake of your life, your children’s lives and a world’s health, civilize to the point where you can trust the science and embrace it.

Pliny the Elder (23-79) said "People have less belief in things relating to their health if they understand."

Prove that almost 2000 years of experience, knowledge and science have not been in vain.  Understand and believe.  And do.