How to Lose Weight and Keep it Off for Good

If you’re like most people you have been on at least one diet in your lifetime. Maybe you were successful and lost a few pounds after starving yourself or working out for two hours a day at the gym. But as usually happens that weight crept back after you settled into your old habits.

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Here’s the secret to weight loss – You Have to EAT!!!!

Yup, you heard right: you need to feed your body with steady nutrients throughout the day. That means feeding it every few hours. The trick is knowing the types of food you need.

So put the candy bars and chips away, at least for now, and start these tried-and-true tips on losing weight and keeping it off.

Start Where You Are

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There is no ‘best time’ to lose weight. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, because it will never come. So many people stall out at before even starting because they’ve got this event or that party coming up. Decide TODAY that you’re going to live healthier and go for it!

It’s All About Moderation

There are diets out there that would have you eliminate entire food groups from your diet. One diet says get rid of carbs, while others have you turning away meat, fish, and eggs at all costs.

If you want true and lasting success, the key is moderation. Bananas are good for you!

Just don’t eat 20 a day!

Yes, stay away from added sugars and white bread, pasta, and rice as much as possible. But don’t beat yourself up for having some every once in a while. Go ahead and have that (small) piece of cake on your birthday – and then get right back on track.

Eating well and staying healthy is all about moderation.

Eat More Often

If you want to fire up your metabolism, you’re going to have to eat more often. Forget about three large meals per day; instead, get into the habit of eating 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day.

Pair protein (lean chicken, beef, beans, eggs, low-fat peanut butter, etc.) with foods like veggies, whole wheat wraps, and fruit. The protein will give your body the energy it needs and will help keep you full longer.

Exercise!

You don’t need to spend hours in the gym every day, but you do need to get your body moving more. Even just 10 minutes a day can help. If it’s been a while since you’ve exercised, start slow. Go for a walk after dinner, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or do some jumping jacks during a commercial. Just get started!

Challenge yourself; do a wall sit for 10 seconds, and increase by 10 seconds each day. Pretty soon, you’ll be ‘wall sitting’ for 5 minutes!

Don’t have time to go to a gym? There are plenty of online videos and classes you can join, for a nominal fee. On-demand classes, such as Pure Barre, can give you an effective workout and a great challenge.

After you join some classes and start getting serious about working out, you should acquire proper sportswear. Sneakers are the most important part of your outfit so make sure they are comfortable and provide enough support. For example, people with flat arches may experience pain while running, that’s why it’s important to have proper shoes and arch support inserts that can help with this problem.   

Remember that exercise is not about punishing yourself – find something you love to do and do it.

Find a Support System

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Do you have a friend, family member or spouse that could stand to lose a bit of weight too?

Encourage them to join you!

That way you’ll have an accountability partner and it will be easier to stay on track.

Finding the right diet and exercise program isn’t as difficult as you think. Eat more of the right foods (think ‘clean’ like veggies, lean meats, and whole grains), stay away from sugar (including fruit juices) and move more. That’s really all there is to it – yes, there are going to be things that get in your way. There will always be that party, that special holiday or that favorite aunt that insists you eat her famous chocolate mousse pie – but at the end of the day, you have to make a choice about what you put into your body. Choose healthy more often than you choose unhealthily, and you’ve found the recipe for success!

Even if you don’t have a lot of weight to lose, eating healthy and exercising is essential for staying healthy. Many of the pre-packaged and processed foods we buy today are contributing to disease and chronic illnesses. Don’t you owe it to yourself to be as healthy and energetic as possible?