My weight bounced up and down for years, and I hated it. When I was lean, I would be on top of the world, holding court everywhere I went, making lively conversation and being full of beans. When I was overweight, I would crumble; I would wear black clothing, never buy new clothes because I always believed that would be a concession the fat was there to stay. I wouldn't look people in the eyes and I would become increasingly anti-social. In a nutshell, I would be a completely different individual. So discovering the easiest way to lose weight was something of a lifelong quest for me.

After trying dozens of different diets and exercise regime, I can certainly say one thing conclusively: they all work. Why shouldn't they? If we boil weight loss right down to the basics, then it is a simple case of calories in vs. calories out, and all diets focus on restricting calories, and all exercise regimes focus on expending calories.

To this degree, it may be comforting to know that there is a perfect method out there for you. For example, I know men who hated the idea of dieting, but absolutely fell in love with the Atkins diet because it allowed them to eat the food they loved. Equally, I know women who swear by Weight Watchers, simply because nothing is out of bounds so long as you measure your quantities.

However, so far we have only been discussing actual pragmatic plans. Arguably the easiest way to lose weight is one which is rarely mentioned -- by re-configuring your belief system. Let me use my own experience as an example:

I used to have a chocolate addiction. I needed chocolate every day. Every day I would eat chocolate, feel rotten about it, and swear in the evening that the next day would be chocolate-free. Of course, as soon as I woke up, I would have a craving for chocolate and, more often than not, I'd rush out to get some as soon as possible. It was this kind of addictive behaviour that led to me being fat and staying fat.

One day I sat down with my laptop computer, opened a word processor, and just started typing about how I felt. I didn't "think" about it, I didn't attempt to form a beautiful documentI just spilled my guts. After 4000 words, I reviewed what I had written, and it blew me away. You see, it was like it was my conscious self speaking, whereas my chocolate-obsessed persona was the irrational subconscious dictating my actions. This document I wrote laid things in perspective and painted a gruesome picture of exactly what I was doing to myself.

And you know what? The next morning I woke up -- and didn't crave chocolate. In fact, I watched what I ate and exercised too. And I kept this up for months to come and eventually shed 70 lbs to take me back down to being a lean machine.

Ultimately you can have the greatest diet and exercise plan in the world, but it will be useless without the right belief system. Yes, having a good plan is a huge motivator and you should have something written down in black-and-white that has a track record for working, as well as fitting in with your own needs. But just ensure that a plan is backed up by a change in beliefs brought on by self-analysis. The easiest way to lose weight is a two-pronged attack of psychology and planning.