Losing weight and being able to keep it off is one of the biggest challenges faced by overweight individuals. Unfortunately, going back and forth between different weights and sizes is far too common. Sadly, most people think they can go on a temporary diet to lose weight. A temporary diet results in temporary weight loss. The only way to lose weight and keep it off permanently is to develop a healthy diet and exercise plan that you can maintain.
Healthy Eating Habits
Food can be a dieter's nightmare. Many are afraid to even attempt dieting because they don't want to give up certain foods or ingredients. A healthy diet is important, but almost any food can be enjoyed in moderation.
To make it easier your diet should include large amounts of vegetables and fruits. It's common sense, but most people ignore it. Even those who don't particularly like vegetables can find ways to add a little flavor to their food. You'd be surprised how many delicious ways there are to incorporate vegetables into your meals.
And remember you don't have to completely cut out your favorites. Believe it or not, there's a place for pizza and ice cream in most diets. The key is moderation. Indulge occasionally, but make sure the bulk of your diet is healthy.
Exercise to Lose Weight
A sedentary lifestyle is a huge contributor to weight gain. If the body is not burning more calories than it consumes, the extra calories are turned into fat stores. This is what causes weight gain.
Exercise, even in small bursts, is the key to burning off any excess calories. Using exercise equipment like treadmills and exercise bikes are great ways to burn calories without ever leaving your home.
Brisk, fast paced walks are another great way to lose weight and stay in shape. For those looking to lose weight while gaining muscle mass, a personalized workout routine is a great option.
Gym memberships will sometimes provide a few sessions with a personal trainer, who will help assess needs and set goals for adequate weight loss, muscle building or maintenance. A lot of the popular at-home workout programs can be very effective as well. Some of the best include the Insanity Workout, P90X, and Turbo Fire.
Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements are a billion dollar industry. Americans are hungry for a quick-fix to their weight loss problems, and these companies seek to make money off of the woes of the overweight. While some supplements are perfectly healthy and do actually contribute to weight loss, there are also some dangerous supplements out there that you need to avoid.
Stay away from supplements with huge amounts of caffeine. These are designed to obliterate hunger, therefore putting a cap on eating anything at all. This is incredibly unhealthy since the human body needs a certain amount of food to stay healthy. They can also adversely affect your metabolism, which can ironically result in weight gain.
If you are considering taking a supplement, do some research and always consult with your doctor first. And only use them to supplement a healthy diet and exercise program. Diet pills alone will never be a healthy way to lose weight.
Keep the Weight Off
Perhaps the most difficult part of weight loss is keeping the pounds off once your desired weight has been reached. Plunging into a hardcore diet plan and then stopping it suddenly once the weight is gone is unhealthy and often causes rapid weight gain.
For most people the only way to lose weight and keep it off permanently is to change their lifestyles. This doesn't mean giving up all their favorite foods though. It simply means finding a healthy balance of diet and exercise, and then sticking with it.
Losing weight and keeping it off doesn't have to be an excruciating ordeal. The key to healthy weight loss is remembering to burn more calories than you're consuming. And the trick to keeping the unwanted pounds off permanently is to maintain a diet and exercise regimen that is neither impossible nor unhealthy to continue for long periods of time.
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