Fad diet ads can be found on television and all over the Internet. There are diet pills, teas, special foods and cleansing products that promise to help you lose weight fast. Unfortunately, none of those things address your lifestyle. Even if they are effective, you're not likely to keep the pounds off unless you learn to incorporate healthy habits into your everyday life. There is no gimmick or shortcut to the right way to lose weight. It's all about healthy eating and exercise.
Step 1
Avoid eating fats, which contain more calories per gram than carbohydrates and proteins. Trim all the fat when you're preparing meat, and grill, bake or steam it instead of frying. Avoid deep-fried foods, and use a nonstick pan for stir-frying so you can cut down on oil use. Skim fat off soup after cooling it in the refrigerator.
Step 2
Eat healthy proteins and carbohydrates. Healthy carb options include whole-wheat grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Chicken, fish and beans are all good proteins. Remember to remove the chicken skin to cut down on calories.
Step 3
Eat four to five small meals throughout the day instead of limiting yourself to three larger meals. Exercise physiologist Pete McCall says this will help you maintain steady blood sugar and keep cravings at bay.
Step 4
Exercise at least 3 days a week for at least 20 minutes each day. You don't have to join a health club or do formal workouts. You can simply walk, run or ride your bicycle around the neighborhood.
Step 5
Add other exercise opportunities to your daily routine. Dr. John Pillinger of Netdoctor recommends using stairs instead of elevators and parking as far as possible from your destination. If you are a television addict, get up and walk around the room during commercial breaks. He also says you should plan "active" leisure activities, such as going to the beach or hiking.
Step 6
Write down your healthy weight-loss plan, says Dr. Pillinger. Turn the steps into an action plan that spells out exactly what you will do. Create a chart and track your eating and exercise progress. It will help you maintain motivation as you fill in the days with healthy activities.
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