The fault with these weight loss programs has as much to do with our bodies as it does the programs themselves. The typical weight loss program is based on a steady caloric reduction which enables the body to lose weight. The problem is that you end up losing more than just fat. When you decrease your caloric intake to or below your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), the daily caloric requirement needed to maintain lean mass, your body has to get by on less energy yet still do the same amount of work.

It becomes even more counter-productive when exercise is added yet caloric intake is still at BMR. When forced into this situation the body reacts by lightening the load. This means the body perceives that it is about to go into a state of caloric deprivation, which prompts the body to begin to rid itself of whatever material that most consumes calories, namely lean muscle. When you begin to reduce your lean muscle mass, you damage your metabolic rate -- your metabolism. The body's ability to burn up and use calories for energy is directly dependent upon the amount of lean mass we have. What most people don't understand is that our lean mass is actually our calorie burning machinery. Calories, specifically fat, are burned in our muscles. So if you decrease the amount of muscle, you lower your ability to burn calories.

	Today the average American woman takes in less than 1,500 calories per day and is on some type of weight loss program.

Once this happens, you've effectively lowered the amount of calories you can now consume on a daily basis without gaining weight. This means if you consume any excess calories above our daily BMR needs, you're very likely going to store the surplus as fat. When this happens, it then becomes necessary to live off of 1,000 calories or less for the rest of your life if you want to keep your weight down. So now not only to you get to eat less, you have a harder time losing weight. And if you mess with your metabolism enough, it can get to the point where you basically can't lose weight and have a hard time getting proper nutrition out of the small amount of food you can eat.

It's been calculated that up until the 1950's the average American woman took in 3,000 to 5,000 calories per day. As we become more and more dependent upon appetite suppressants and commercial weight loss centers, we have also become largely a more unhealthy society due to incorrect dieting practices and destroying our metabolics.

In order to truly alter the body's appearance and maintain that appearance, a person must adhere to a program that includes identifying the proper amount of daily food intake based on body statistics and realistic goals, the appropriate amount of aerobic exercise, the proper amount of diet augmentation, and the correct amount of resistance training. There are no quick fixes - only metabolic disasters.

	Having a small breakfast every day will actually boost your metabolism.

The liver is the organ responsible for fat metabolism. Poor diet and alcohol and drug abuse severely impair the liver. If you're a recovering alcoholic or drug addict, it's imperative that you consult with a nutritionist and herbalist to set up a good liver cleanse and support plan. This will be an important first step towards boosting your metabolism and losing weight.

If you're over 30, chances are you're metabolism has already begun to slow. By 40, your body needs roughly half the calories it did at 20 to maintain the same body weight. This means your portions should be cut in half to keep from gaining weight and to maintain a healthy metabolism.

Other things you can do to boost your metabolism include having breakfast every day (even if small). Reduce both sugars and fats as they actually slow metabolism. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes raise metabolism. And don't forget the water. Eight to ten glasses of water each day helps maintain a high metabolic rate.

The following is a good way to check your metabolism. Metabolism all comes down to math. Your resting metabalic rate (RMR), which accounts for roughly 50 to 70 percent of the calories you burn everyday, is genetically determined to a certain degree, and digesting food takes up another 10 percent. The rest is based on your physical activity. The only way to precisely assess your RMR is to have it tested in a hospital, but you can a rough idea by using the following equation;

655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.3 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)

If the result is lower that the number of calories you take in everyday, you'll need to step up your exercise and adjust your diet accordingly to lose weight.