With epidemic numbers of overweight people increasing throughout the world, it stands to reason that there are more variables in play than just "fast food". The world is hustling and with the advent of computers and the internet, the hustling is more informational and mental than physical. So, if the majority of us are trying to lose weight in some form or another, the main question we need to ask ourselves is "Are we addicted to our lifestyles?"

Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:

• Have you been trying to lose weight but seem to keep falling into the same rut?
• Do you constantly tell yourself that you need to lose weight but just can't get around to it?
• Have you thought about losing weight, but keep telling yourself that it's not a big deal?

If you've said yes, congratulations: you're addicted to your lifestyle!

Have you ever seen a drug addict or alcoholic? Have you seen their struggles? They have huge problems getting away from those drugs. They need strong support networks and counseling just to make it through the day.

Now, of course, these are very strong physical dependencies. A lifestyle addiction would be classified as a psychological dependency. It would compare to "needing" your husband or wife should they leave you. You know that you shouldn't care and that you should just let go, but you can't..and you can't figure out why.

Losing weight can, and often does, fall into this same category. Let's say that you've been on an exercise and diet plan for 3 days but you break your plan on the third day. A drug addict would call that a relapse, right?

Let’s classify an addiction using these examples:

• An addiction is something that you don’t see as a problem, yet you get angry when someone else says it is (Doc says, “Hey Bob, you need to drop 30 pounds.)
•  An addiction is a “rut” that you can’t get out of (I just don’t have time.)
• An addiction is something that harms you in the long run, but is satisfying in the short run (Oh, that chocolate cake looks so good...one piece won't hurt.)
• An addiction is a problem that you can’t change because of “willpower”. (I just can’t seem to get motivated.)
• An addiction is something that’s “too tough” to change (Twenty pounds, I’ll NEVER be able to lose that much.)

Face it. If you need to lose weight, but just can’t take the time to get around to it, you are addicted to your lifestyle. It’s an ugly way to look at it. After all, who wants to be grouped in the same category as drug addicts and alcoholics? No one. But the category is still the same. The ugly truth is still there no matter how you look at it.

Losing weight is a serious matter and it is about time you look at it that way. The fact that you might be having trouble doing it just reinforces this even more. It’s your life and your journey.

Don’t lie to yourself anymore. If a doctor told you that you would die tomorrow if you didn’t get in at least 30 minutes of exercise today, would you go about your day and ignore the doctor (because he/she OBVIOUSLY doesn’t know what he/she is talking about) or would you immediately rearrange your day and find a way to get it done?

Think about the above examples before you answer. I’d like to think you’d get off your butt and do something. After all…in this particular case…it’s do or die.

So…what are you going to do?