Despite how it usually seems, we do not gain all of this excess weight overnight. We think that there is some magical potion that can allow us to eat fast foods, unhealthy foods, and enormous portions while sitting on the couch or behind our computer desk. We think we can detox two days before an event, lose enough weight to fit into our dress and then go right back to the same old way of eating after it is over.

We do not go from normal weight to morbidly obese in the course of a week or even in the course of a month. Our entire society and culture is built on speed. We think we should be able to take some magic pill that blocks or absorbs all of the calories from the foods that we eat so that we do not gain weight. We instant message each another, we surf the web, demanding faster and faster connection speeds.

We want instant foods, express check out lanes and the ability to grab a gallon of milk without even getting out of our car. It is gradual and yet we think there should be a way to lose weight fast.

All of this adds up to more weight gain and the desire to lose weight fast.