With new diet books, products and pills being introduced almost weekly, it can be confusing to tell the difference between fad weight loss tactics and the real deal. If you're serious about changing your life and creating a healthier, better body, then fad diets and products aren't for you. Instead, focus on healthy lifestyle changes that can become daily habits to help you lose weight and enjoy a healthier body.
Eat Better
The way you eat has a large bearing on how much you eat. Since the only way to lose weight is to consume less calories than you burn, the more calories you consume, the more difficult it is to lose excess pounds through exercise. Choose foods that are highly nutritious, yet low in calories for the more bang for your caloric buck. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases suggests a diet for fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, lean meats and eggs, with little in the way of saturated and trans fats.
Move More
Exercise can help you burn excess calories, which can translate to weight loss. While exercise may conjure up ideas of hours at the gym with a personal trainer, real-life exercise can be as simple as taking the stairs over the elevator or parking farther from the mall. Start small so as not to overwhelm yourself and your body. Eventually, work up to at least 30 minutes of aerobic activities each day, suggests KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. Choose activities that you already enjoy, like rock climbing and hiking to keep your exercise routine fresh and engaging.
Set Goals
Weight loss can be frustrating when you can't seem to reach unrealistic goals. The healthiest rate of weight loss is 1 to 2 lbs. per week. In order to achieve that weight loss, you must create a calorie deficit of 500 to 1,000 calories per day through exercise and a healthy diet. Calculate how many weeks it would take to achieve your goal weight at that pace and plan your weight loss efforts accordingly. Setting achievable goals is one of the easiest ways to stay motivated, notes MayoClinic.com. Try making both long and short term goals and awarding yourself when you reach them to keep yourself motivated to complete your weight loss.
Ignore Fads
While the latest late night infomercial may have you interested in losing weight with a quick fix pill or exercise machine, remember that fad diets are just that: fads. Like any other fad, they are fleeting and often ineffective. When fad diets are effective, it's likely because it involves strict calorie control or cutting out entire food groups. This may help you achieve short term weight loss, but you're likely to gain back what you've lost once you resume regular habits. Real weight loss occurs when you make a healthier lifestyle a habit and your new way of life.
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