In this book, you'll discover how to lose 10 pounds a month - a nice, safe loss of about two or two-and-a-half pounds a week - painlessly. You'll feel satisfied and more energetic than in the past without feeling deprived. Most Americans pack on those extra pounds by eating the wrong things. Changing these poor eating habits is the key to long-term success. Knowledge - along with the right food - is the key. Extremely low-calorie diets may help you shed pounds quickly, but they'll lead to failure in the long run. That's because humans are genetically protected against starvation. During food shortages, our bodies slow down our metabolisms and burn less energy so we can stay alive. A part of our brain called the hypothalamus keeps us on an even weight keep by creating a "e;set point."e; That's the weight where we feel comfortable. The hypothalamus determines this point based on the level of consumption it's used to. It seeks to keep our weight constant, even if that point is over what it should be. When we drastically cut back our food intake, the brain thinks the body is starving, and in an effort to preserve life, it slows the metabolism. Soon the pounds stop coming off. Consequently, we grow hungry and uncomfortable and then eat more. And then the diet fails. How can you compensate for this metabolic slow-down? The answer is that you have to change the nutritional composition of the foods you eat. You will have to cut down on total calories - that's absolutely basic to weight loss. More important, however, is reducing the percentage of total calories you are getting from fat. That's how you'll avoid starvation panic in your system. At the same time, you reduce the amount of fat in your food, replacing it with safe, low calorie, nutrient-rich plant foods. This will convince your brain that your body is getting all the nutrition it needs.