It's the subject of hundreds of books, tons of websites and plenty of television time, which can make you think losing weight is a tricky process that requires a certain level of expertise to achieve. Not so. Though losing weight isn't easy, it is simple: If you burn more calories than you take in every day, you'll lose weight.
Set Goals and Rewards
If you want to lose weight, you need a mix of short-term and long-term goals -- and rewards you're excited about to celebrate reaching them. Too often, people set goals that are too vague -- such as "exercise more" or "eat healthier" -- or too difficult -- such as "lose 10 pounds by next week" -- and set themselves up to fail, explains MayoClinic.com. Instead, be as specific as possible: Make it your goal to walk for 20 minutes every morning and 30 minutes every night, or set a goal to increase your activity and count your calories to lose two to three pounds per week. And don't forget the power of an incentive as motivation, says licensed psychotherapist Stacy Kaiser of VH1's Celebrity Fit Club in "Women's Health" magazine: Pay yourself a set amount of money for each pound you lose that you can redeem for shopping trips, spa days or weekend getaways as you achieve your goals.
Move More
Yes, exercise is a good idea, and you should aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. But if you really want to lose weight, you need to make activity part of your everyday life, too, according to MayoClinic.com. Get into the habit of choosing movement: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to the coffee shop instead of driving, park at the far end of the parking lot or pace while you talk on the phone. The more you move, the more calories you'll burn and the more accustomed to everyday fitness you'll become.
Balance Your Diet
You probably know you should avoid high-fat, high-calorie foods, but you may not know that your diet is probably out of balance in another important way. Instead of eating your main meal at dinner, make breakfast your main meal of the day and eat lighter at lunch and dinner, recommends "Best Health" magazine. Not only do people who eat breakfast consume fewer calories and make healthier eating choices throughout the day, they also kick-start their metabolism to burn more calories all day long. In addition to making your diet morning-heavy, stock your fridge and pantry with ingredients that make it easy to cook at home, since the more meals you eat out, the more calories you tend to consume, explains "Women's Health" magazine.
Bonus: Be a Weekend Warrior
Once you get into a routine, it's easy to maintain your healthy habits during the week -- but when the weekend rolls around, the lack of schedule can make you slip up, warns registered dietitian Tanya Zuckerbrot, author of The F-Factor Diet, in "Women's Health" magazine. Set your alarm and stick with your routine on weekends, and you'll keep your weight loss momentum going.
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