Just wanted to recommend a book that I've been reading. It's by Gary Taubes and it's called Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It.
I read his previous book (Good Calories, Bad Calories) and it was a really good explanation of the causes of obesity. He has looked at hundreds of medical studies done over the last 150 years and has come to the obvious conclusion that the current government recommendations for weight loss (low cal, low fat) are having the opposite desired effect. He says that it is carbs and consequently insulin that causes us to gain weight. This is why diabetes is related to obesity (you've probably heard this before).
The book answers a lot of the questions I had about my personal struggle with obesity. In particular why it has been so hard to maintain weight loss in the past and why I've been made to feel lazy/gluttonous when I am just as active, if not more so than my 'normal' friends.
His recommendations for weight loss are what many of our surgeons recommend - high Protein, low carb.
I'd also like to recommend a lecture on sugar and high fructose corn Syrup. It makes a lot of sense. You can watch it here:
