1.
Identify your target weight. Aside from any Hollywood standard, what is
your ideal weight? If you need to lose 25 pounds total, then set a
weekly goal that will help you reach that ideal weight over time. The
healthy habits you adopt should become permanent, to help keep the
weight from returning.
2. Start using
small plates. Over the years, the plates Americans eat on have gotten
bigger and bigger: this really is no surprise, considering obesity
statistics. Invest in smaller serving plates to limit portions on a
regular basis and this alone should result in noticeable weight loss
over time.
3. Get plenty of sleep. People
who are sleep-deprived tend to over-eat and make poor choices throughout
their day. Those who get a full eight hours have plenty of energy to
sustain them and don't indulge in diet-costly binging. Don't overlook
this important element of weight loss.
4. Start a work out routine. Find something
you like in a conducive environment and do it at least three times a
week. No matter how much you cut calories, you are not really going to
burn fat and drop the weight you want without serious regular exercise.
5.
Stop drinking soda. Period. It's very unhealthy for you and even the
so-called diet version contains too many empty calories. There are
things you could be drinking like green tea and bottled water that will
work in conjunction with your weight loss efforts; use them liberally!
6.
Eliminate all junk and fast-food. There is really no excuse to keep
eating at burger joints and filling yourself up with potato chips; if
you are serious about weight loss, you just won't let yourself do that
anymore! Although it's difficult to completely eliminate processed foods
from our diets, it's easy to skip the drive-through and pork-skins.
7.
Fill up with water. Not only is this a healthy drink for you, it will
also trick your tummy into thinking you are full! Have a glass right
when you wake up, even before coffee, and all your internal organs will
function better over the course of the day. Enjoy one glass before every
meal, and you will find yourself much less hungry.
8. Try eating several small meals
throughout your day. This can be very beneficial to your digestive
system and aid in systematic weight-loss. Calculating everything you eat
and making sure it's healthy will eliminate dangerous between-meal
snacking that will keep pounds on.
9. Stick with it!
Depending on your age and metabolism, as well as other individual
circumstances, your weight loss may not happen as quickly as you'd like.
Despite your tireless (and often tasteless!) efforts, you might see
only marginal progress on the scale, but don't give up! You're eating
and living much healthier now, and it will pay off!
10. Avoid all fad or crash diet methods. No matter how
tempting, such efforts are futile and counter-productive to long-term
and healthy weight loss. Don't consider using any diet plan that your
doctor would not approve of.