Weight Loss dreams in the spring are as predictable as April showers. Those who have put on a few extra holiday and winter pounds realize the annual bikini season is almost upon us and have a fear of having to bear it all at the beach. Without the ability of having to drown their sorrows in food (which pretty much put them in this banana boat anyway) weight loss hopefuls look for ways to make the weight magically disappear. Weight loss season is the start of a whole new holiday season for retailers. Books about the newest weight loss fads fly off the shelves. Diet pills and diet pill supplements sell out at the pharmacy. Health and fitness magazines like Shape and Prevention start to outsell the ever popular celebrity weeklies. The most astonishing part of this whole phenomenon is that weight loss hopefuls seek answers to a question that they already know the answer to. Like the exasperated parent, who must repeat things just one more time, I will give you the not so secret secrets to weight loss. It will not cost you a penny at the pharmacy or the bookstore, it is absolutely free. Weight Loss Secret #1 Lay off the ice cream, cookie dough, deep fried Twinkies, well you get the point. It is not just the sweets but they are a big culprit. In general you need to burn more calories than you are taking in. Cookies and the like are really high in calories. Try choosing foods with fewer calories, the fewer calories you take in the less you have to burn. Foods like lean meats and vegetables are low in fat and calories. So have the broccoli (without the melted cheese of course), Make a nice big salad your best friend. Salad will never steer you wrong unlike fair-weather friends fat and grease. Weight Loss Secret #2 Move away from the keyboard. I repeat, move away from the keyboard. You will never, ever be able to burn the desired amount of calories by surfing the net and instant messaging. There are quite a few ways to get moving. Clean the house mow the lawn, its spring so start spring cleaning. A better idea is to take the kids to the park and enjoy the weather. Get into it, jump rope, play baseball maybe a little catch. Don’t be bothered by the heavy breathing and wheezing. This will subside after you’ve done it a few times. You don’t have kids? Take the dog to the park and play Frisbee. Don’t have a dog? Borrow a friend’s for the day. If that doesn’t work out go to the park and play with the pigeons. They love to run and exercise and there are always plenty of them around in the park to play with. Another solution is to do what millions of other people do. Go to the one place that is bearable for only 2-3 months of the year – the gym. There, while working out you can and will meet those just as reluctant to be there as you and together you can commiserate on the cruel twist of genetic fate that has brought you to such a pass. The exercise will do you good. You’ll make new friends and start to feel better. An added bonus is that walking up long flights of stairs will no longer be such a chore. So there you have it the not so secret secrets to weight loss. Read the article, follow my tips, they will work of course. Tuck this article away until you need some inspiration again. See you next spring.