Ways to Lose 10 Pounds

Ways to Lose 10 Pounds
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Losing weight is a difficult task, even for those who have plenty of willpower. The Mayo Clinic suggests that instead of dieting, you learn how to balance calorie intake with an adequate amount of physical activity each day. If your goal is a 10 pound weight loss, try to lose an average of one to two pounds per week. This is a gradual and healthy weight loss, as opposed to a fast weight loss that may cause you to gain the weight back quicker.

Exercise

One way to lose 10 pounds is a regimen of daily exercise. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that healthy adults under age 66 get up to 30 minutes of moderate cardio exercise a day, up to five days a week. Cardio involves any physical measure in which you raise your heart rate and begin to break a sweat, for example through walking, running or performing aerobic exercise. To reach your 30 minute daily goal, break the mundane repetition. If you are unable to do 30-minute blocks of exercise, break your workout into two, 15-minute sessions. Stick to the same time every day to make exercise part of your daily routine. Get up 30 minutes early to jog or work out. Use free time, for example your lunch hour or before you pick up the kids from soccer practice, to work out. To boost your success at losing 10 pounds, find a workout buddy who has similar goals. Both of you can walk together and encourage each other to make other healthy lifestyle changes.

Diet

Hundreds of popular diets are available to help you reach your 10-pound weight-loss goal. However, many of them are confusing and hard to follow, which is why most diets fail. To help ensure success, become educated with the My Pyramid food guide, designed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The pyramid helps simplify the amount of nutritious foods you should eat each day. My Pyramid suggests that the average person should make healthy food choices from each food group. This includes fruits, whole grains, vegetables, dairy products, lean meats, nuts, eggs, poultry and foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol. My Pyramid allows you to create a personalized nutritional plan and learn healthy eating habits while fueling your body with exactly what it needs. Eating healthy foods coupled with daily exercise will help you take off 10 pounds and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Fluid Intake

Another key is proper fluid intake. While some experts advise drinking up to eight, 8-oz. glasses of water a day, the Mayo Clinic states that no particular formula fits everyone. The Mayo Clinic notes that water is your body's main chemical component; it accounts for 60 percent of your overall weight. When fluid intake is too low, dehydration can result. This, in turn, can cause your body to weaken and even suppress vital organs that stimulate metabolism. Fueling up on water and avoiding artificial sweeteners will help flush fat out of your body and help you reach your goal of losing 10 pounds.

References

Article reviewed by Connie Bye Last updated on: Apr 25, 2010

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