Maintaining a healthy body weight looks attractive and can prevent future health problems. The body mass index, or BMI, is one way to measure the proportion of your height and weight. Although the BMI can suggest an appropriate weight range for most people, it may not apply to those who are extremely muscular. Losing weight too quickly is not recommended because it can cause stress on your heart and is more likely to be regained. You can lose weight and lower your BMI by changing your habits.
Step 1
Increase your exercise. Get aerobic exercise most days of the week. Get at least 30 minutes of daily exercise to start, but build up to longer exercise sessions to see greater results. Choose activities that raise your heart rate, such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming or fast biking.
Step 2
Cut calorie intake by 500 to 1,000. Do this every day to lose up to 2 lbs. per week. Eliminate empty calories, such as sugary beverages, candy and fast foods. Eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and poultry and low-fat sources of dairy. Reduce portion sizes and avoid eating second helpings.
Step 3
Drink more water. Drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water each day to reduce feelings of hunger and replace drinks with more calories. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends drinking water to help with weight loss because it flushes out the kidneys and may prevent excess weight due to water retention.
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