You don't need to stick to tough rules or overnight changes; you need not rely on hardcore discipline that makes you hate your life. You need only focus on progress, not perfection. Lean in to the process of losing weight, and it will happen easily.

If you want to feel more comfortable and happy, work on making the people around you more comfortable and happy.

What you want is to rev up your metabolism so that you are burning fat and calories, not preserving fat and calories.

I was weaned on chicken-fried steak and hominy grits with goopy gravy all over. I loved meat and wore fur.

Personally, I enjoy a bowl of brown rice for breakfast most of the time.

So if you serve a whole chicken to your family like grandma did, you may be serving them 10 times as much fat than the days of yesteryear. That's a whole lotta fat, and big trouble for the waistline.

My favorite meal is I'll make like a three-bean soup and I freeze half of it. But I'm also a big fan of meat alternatives, so I can still have my chicken and mashed potatoes and green beans, but I just have the chicken from a plant-based thing.