Before you can shed those extra pounds and keep them off successfully, you need to understand some basic human functions as to why you gain weight in the first place.

There are many factors that contribute to wight gain, but once you address each of them you will have better success at losing pounds and keeping it off.

Much of the reason why we gain weight is simply due to the lifestyle we've adopted. The kind of food you eat, your smoking and drinking habits, your level of stress all contribute to weight gain. As if that wasn't enough, there are other factors that play a part on whether you will be successful or not in shedding pounds.

Heredity, age, our toxic environment and our sensitivities and allergies all play a great part on weight gain.

Now that you've seen a few of the factors leading up to weight gain, what can you do to minimize them and help control your weight?

Heredity plays a part but that doesn't mean you have a good excuse for not becoming a few pounds lighter. It may be in the genes, but you can do something about it. Part of the problem is due to overeating that occurs in many families. It becomes a habit and you grew up adopting that habit. To counter this you should take a look at what you eat. Likely you eat the same unwholesome foods as the rest of the family. Switch to a diet high in fiber. Eat fresh fruit, organically grown vegetables, nuts and seeds for fiber.

Watching your weight on a daily basis can help you lose some weight. In one study 3000 overweight people who were on weight loss programs were monitored over a 2 year period. Those who weighed themselves on a daily basis lost an average of 12 pounds as compared to those who seldom weighed themselves. They lost an average of only 4 pounds.

Eat high fiber, low glycemic food. Green foods are particularly useful in flushing out toxins from your body. Try a colon cleanse, liver and kidney flush to help your organs recuperate and assume their proper functions. Cut out the fat and sugar. Read the labels on the food you buy. Stop smoking. Drink in moderation.

Certain medications lead to weight gain. Go to your doctor to find out which drugs are contributing to weight gain and ask for a different prescription. Chances are you don't need half the drugs you've been prescribed.

Drink pure water. Water helps to burn calories. Drinking water does help flush out some of those toxins.

Getting yourself moving and your heart pumping will help shed extra pounds. Whether it's a brisk 10 minute walk every day, gardening or a workout at a gym, you will feel better and the scales will show it.

While there are many obstacles to losing weight, you really can't delay tackling the problem. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis are all diseases that are the result of living a wrong lifestyle. You may be young and healthy today and not paying much attention to your health, but age will bring about those diseases that are the scourge of mankind today.

Getting yourself into your proper BMI range and keeping yourself there will insure a pain-free existence as you get older.