When my godson John was five or so, he decided to become a basketball star. What, I asked, would it take to become a basketball star? He considered a moment, then answered, "Well, I guess I'd have to make a lot of baskets."

Oh, right. Make a lot of baskets. With a five year old's essential wisdom, that is what it takes to be a basketball star. Practice would help, so would hard work and height and tenacity and talent. But in the end, make a lot of baskets and you've got a shot. (Ahem.)

And that's how the diet blog "Escape from Obestity" strikes me, as one essential truth after another, thinking that applies whether 15 or 150 pounds imprisons our bodies, what Lyn, the blog's thoughtful author, calls her 'hellish nightmare'. Here are some samples.

On how to lose weight, read ~~ January 1, 2008: 248 Pounds ~~ Sample: "STOP EATING SO MUCH AND START MOVING."

On why we fail to lose weight, read ~~ Mistakes ~~ Sample: "Experts say that losing and regaining is even worse for your body that never losing at all. So I thought now (when I have regained a few pounds) would be a good time to focus and LEARN something from my mistakes."

On trading life for a brownie, read ~~ Why I Am Fat ~~ Sample: "I never understood the saying, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." Of course it does!!! How could being thin compare to the deep dark chocolate taste in a slice of Triple Chocolate Cheesecake?? Or a plate of bacon/cheese smothered french fries drenched in salt and dunked in ranch dressing???? Being thin could not POSSIBLY compare to the ecstacy of eating those foods."

On how weight affects how we love our kids, read ~~ How Obesity Affects Lives ~~ Sample: "When my kids were little, I was not fat. Every night I would go and lay with them on their beds, each child in their own room, for some one-on-one time with them."

On food cravings, read ~~ It's All In Your Head ~~ Sample: "... we often get ourselves all worked up about the thought of some certain food we crave. Then when we give in and eat it, it isn't as good as we had imagined, but we shrug and eat it anyway."

On portion size, read ~~ You Don't Know What You're Eating ~~ Sample: "... 'I know what I'm eating! I put it in my mouth, don't I??' Oh, but honey, unless you are actually MEASURING your food and CALCULATING the calories on some website or on paper, you really don't."

Lyn has lost 30 pounds, a great achievement. But it's just a start on her long journey, so do check in to cheer her on and be sure to mention you're visiting from Blogher.

Today is Day 11 of counting Weight Watchers points for BlogHer food editor Alanna Kellogg, who knows it will take many more days, that you can't really Lose 50 Pounds in Five Minutes. Now she's off to 'get moving' and recommends the same!