Another week, another realization. Still nothing as profound as an epiphany, but certainly more enlightening than a Homer Simpson "Duh!" moment. Here it is: simple and easy are two completely different things. Simple means "not complex or complicated." Easy means "not difficult." Still, many people--I'd even venture to say, most people--use the terms interchangeably.
Sometimes, a simple task is also an easy task. Clapping your hands, for example, is both simple and easy. But some simple tasks are not easy at all, such as lifting a 100-lb barbell.
Why do I bring this up? Because I have heard and read over and over again that losing weight is "easy." All one has to do is eat less and exercise more. All one has to do is drink 8 cups of water a day. All one has to do is eat only when physically hungry. All one has to do is eat this and not that. All one has to do is follow this or that program. The advice is endless (and often contradictory, but that's another post for another day.)
As one who has been there, done that, and is doing it all over again, let me tell you: losing weight is not easy. Sure, the principles of weight loss are simple. Putting them into practice, another story. Putting them into practice consistently over an extended period of time? "Not easy" cubed.
Why? That's a simple question without a simple, or easy, answer. It's also an answer I haven't found yet, though I have any number of guesses.
I'm not sure the answer matters, either. Practicing a healthy(-er) lifestyle may not be easy, but it is worthwhile. But then, isn't that the true for all of life's worthwhile pursuits?
Sometimes, a simple task is also an easy task. Clapping your hands, for example, is both simple and easy. But some simple tasks are not easy at all, such as lifting a 100-lb barbell.
Why do I bring this up? Because I have heard and read over and over again that losing weight is "easy." All one has to do is eat less and exercise more. All one has to do is drink 8 cups of water a day. All one has to do is eat only when physically hungry. All one has to do is eat this and not that. All one has to do is follow this or that program. The advice is endless (and often contradictory, but that's another post for another day.)
As one who has been there, done that, and is doing it all over again, let me tell you: losing weight is not easy. Sure, the principles of weight loss are simple. Putting them into practice, another story. Putting them into practice consistently over an extended period of time? "Not easy" cubed.
Why? That's a simple question without a simple, or easy, answer. It's also an answer I haven't found yet, though I have any number of guesses.
I'm not sure the answer matters, either. Practicing a healthy(-er) lifestyle may not be easy, but it is worthwhile. But then, isn't that the true for all of life's worthwhile pursuits?