Simple, sheer physical movement is something that most of us have far too little of in our lives. One look at a three year old child confirms that we were born to move, not to sit still. But modern technology and convenience have conspired to dramatically cut down the amount of movement in the average life.

People who live in the suburbs seem to be particularly prone to this physical movement shortage. A recent study confirms that those who live in cities are 5 times more likely to walk or bike than those who live in the suburbs.

We have to be very careful. Our physical bodies house all our intellectual and emotional potential. And our physical bodies are most certainly built for movement.

So there is no doubt that if you want to lose weight and keep it off, then you need to work consciously to reverse lack of movement trend that’s running amuck in our culture. You need to get on the move and keep on the move.

Notice that I’m consciously refraining from using the word exercise. Exercise is great, and I highly recommend it, but what I am advocating is something more basic and rudimentary.

The word exercise connotes some sort of structured physical fitness activity. This is an important part of the type of movement I’m referring to. But for me movement is broader. It involves how you operate in your day to day life.

Let me give you an example. I see countless people at the gym I go to who drive around the lot looking for the closest possible parking space they can find. If there is not a free spot close to the building, they keep driving around and around until one opens up. Then they walk 20 feet into the building, spend 15 minutes on the treadmill, and walk the 20 feet back to their cars. This is ludicrous!

Prioritizing movement needs to become part of your lifestyle. I never sit at my desk for more than 30 minutes at a time, and quite frankly I don’t understand how anyone else can. Get up and stretch, move around a bit—it’s this type of day-to-day action that I’m talking about.

By all means, add more exercise into your life if you can, but at its most basic it is movement that we are after, and movement that you must have if you are going to be successful with your weight loss efforts.

If you are going to lose weight, and keep it off, then you are going to need support and lots of it. Battling through it on your own may seem courageous, but it rarely works over the long haul. It’s a mistake that I see made over and over again. Folks seem to look at the process of losing weight as a solitary endeavor. They slug it out as best they can, and when things don’t go well they have no one to turn to.

We are social animals by nature. More and more studies suggest that socializing is not only good for your psyche, but it’s also great for your health. People with solid social networks tend to live longer and healthier lives.

And when it comes to fighting the weight loss battle, there’s nothing quite like the support of close friends and family.

I know it can be tough, but you need to enlist those closest to you to help you set realistic goals and stay on track. You need to have at least one person to talk with about your innermost feelings and struggles. It’s good for the heart, the mind, and, ultimately, the body.

One thing that I’ve seen work over and over again is to have a weight loss buddy or partner. This is someone close to you who is also trying to lose weight and get in shape.

Guys tend to be competitive, and having a contest with your buddy to see who can drop the weight is a great motivator. Place a small wager on the outcome and really get those juices flowing. Women also benefit from these friendly contests, and they feel perhaps even more at home and grateful for the mutual support such efforts provide.

I also encourage you to find support through additional means. Read up on health and fitness. You’ll increase your knowledge about the subject exponentially. And you’ll also find that the reading will serve to help keep you motivated and focused during the tough times.

Online communities are another great source of support. It’s great to bond with people who share many of your concerns and frustrations. A simple Google search for weight loss communities or blogs will reveal a wealth of possibilities.