I have spent the last 12 years studying law and medicine and have many years of classes under my belt (including years of medical school) on both subjects. At one time I weighed 288 pounds. I followed some medical advice and now weigh 170 pounds. A friend recently asked me the "proper" way to lose weight. My friend followed my advice and has lost 20 pounds. So, I thought I'd share this advice with my kilted brethren.

Diets
Diets are good, but you have to keep something very important in mind. Your body will process any food you put into it, but only at a certain rate. If you put less food in than your body can process, then you are likely to lose weight. If you put in more food than your body can process, then you are likely to gain weight. Let's say your current eating habits keep you at 170 pounds, but you aren't happy with that weight and want to lose some. If you go on a diet to lose weight and, in fact, do lose weight, you can be happy that you are at the weight you desire. However, you'll have to stick to that diet for the rest of your life. If you return to your old diet you'll likely go back to 170 pounds and you'll wonder why the diet failed you. The diet didn't fail, what failed is the understanding of how this whole process works. Fasting is not good because your body can think it's "starving" and, when you do eat, store food for later use rather than process it to counter any damage the next time it feels it is being starved.

Pills
Using pills or diet aids to lose weight has the same effect. Once you get to your desired weight you'll have to continue taking the pills or diet aids to maintain that weight - discontinuing will return you to your "old system" and you'll likely return to your old weight. Returning to the pills is actually what many diet pill vendors are hoping to acheive so they can count on "return customers".

Exercise
Exercise is good, the body will atrophy without it. But, again, you're looking at the same thing - you'll have to continue the exercise to maintain the desired weight. Exercise can also alter your metabolism so that your body will process food as a faster rate.. but that rate will diminish if you stop exercising, which will likely return you to your old weight.

My advice
1. Eat only when hungry. Many people eat to overcome stress, anxiety and other things. Some overweight folks never come within a mile of hunger. If you find yourself eating when you're not actually hungry, perhaps you should investigate another area of your life.

2. Never stuff yourself. There is a difference between eating until you are no longer hungry and eating until you are full.. the latter is never a good thing because your body will store excess food (spare tire anyone?).

3. Go to bed hungry. Your body slows down during sleep and any food in your stomach will not be processed at your normal rate. Some foods can rot during sleep and this has an adverse effect on your overall health.

4. Exercise. It does a body good. The proper way to lose weight, and one that will have lasting effects, is to increase activity and decrease food intake.

My opinions (just that.. not medical advice)
Milk - Milk is rich in fats and sugars. This is good for a newborn being to help it "get going". But, for adults, milk is not necessary. How many times have you seen full-grown animals in the zoo or forrest drinking its mother's milk? Of course the dairy industry doesn't want you to think that way.. much the way that the tobacco industry doesn't want you thinking that nicotine is addictive.

Spicy foods - I see advertisements all over the television about products to alleviate gas and heartburn. How about not eating the foods that cause gas and heartburn? That will save you money on those products as well as wear and tear on your body.

Fish - Fish contains omega3 fatty acids and these acids are essential. The body cannot make these acids and can only obtain them from foods.

Sweets - I don't see sweets as a bad thing. I eat sweets now and then and don't see it having an adverse effect on my health.

Moderation - Almost anything is good in moderation and too much of even a good thing can be bad.

Take care of your body, it's the only one you get

Well, I hope this will help someone.. I know it has helped me in the past.