Weight loss is only as complicated as you make it out to be. While listening to so-called experts, considering fad diets and purchasing diet pills can be complicated, true weight loss for life is actually a simple process. Weight loss involves substituting unhealthy habits for lifestyle choices that allow you to lose the weight for the long term. Instead of trying complicated diets that involve measuring and cutting out entire food groups, rely on eating healthier and exercising more for weight loss.
Step 1
Plan for your weight loss, setting realistic goals that you can reach by knowing exactly what it will take for you to shed pounds. One pound equals 3,500 calories, according to the MedlinePlus online medical encyclopedia. By consuming 500 fewer calories than you burn each day, you could lose a pound in a week, which is a healthy rate of weight loss. By planning ahead, you can set attainable goals that help you to stay motivated.
Step 2
Clean out your cupboards. It can be difficult to eat a healthier diet when the remains of your old eating habits still taunt you. Get rid of foods that are processed, sugary or high in sodium and replace them with healthy foods that you've purchased from the perimeter of your grocery store. You'll find the healthiest whole foods in the produce, meat, dairy and bread aisles.
Step 3
Eat several times throughout the day instead of relying on a traditional three-square-meals eating plan. When you eat too little and infrequently during the day, your body begins to store calories for energy rather than burning them. When you eat five to seven small, healthy meals every two to three hours, your metabolism learns to burn calories quickly in preparation for the next meal, helping you shed pounds while staying satisfied.
Step 4
Move your body more. Whether you take the stairs instead of the elevator or walk around the mall for a couple hours, being conscious of the amount of exercise your body gets can help you move more and burn calories. Once you get the hang of daily fitness, aim for at 30 minutes of aerobic activity every day to burn calories and lose weight. You can try walking, dancing, biking or any other exercise that raises your heart rate.
Step 5
Write about your weight-loss efforts in a diet journal. Record what you've eaten, when and how you felt when you were eating, the Mayo Clinic suggests. This can help you identify detrimental eating practices, like snacking only when you're bored. Armed with the information in your journal, you can stay accountable to yourself while reforming the daily habits that hold you back from weight-loss success.
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