| There usually comes a point in time when we | | | | drink? Did you know that most soda's contain the |
| step on our fancy digital scale and the numbers | | | | equivalent of 15 sugar cubes? Could you eat 15 |
| come up and we think to ourselves, "there must | | | | sugar cubes? Probably not. But I'll bet you can |
| be something wrong with the scale. I couldn't | | | | drink a few sodas. Simply cutting out soda can be |
| possibly weigh this much." Most people have a | | | | an encouraging start to your weight loss. |
| specific number in their mind that they consider to | | | | Personally, I stopped drinking soda and focused on |
| be "too heavy." It seems as soon as someone | | | | drinking water and I lost over 10 pounds in 2 |
| reaches that weight, they resolve right then and | | | | weeks. Just by cutting out soda! You won't |
| there to lose weight, so they look for the next | | | | continue to lose weight after the initial pounds fall |
| fad diet to drop some serious pounds. But when | | | | off, but you'll see a difference on the scale and |
| the fad diet doesn't work, they get discouraged | | | | that is what counts. |
| and that "too heavy" number gets larger. The | | | | What are you eating? Cut out the fast food. Eat |
| cycle repeats and obesity is one of America's | | | | a banana and some oatmeal instead of a |
| largest problems. The bottom line is that fad diets, | | | | breakfast burrito. Start drinking low-fat milk. You |
| magic pills, Acai berries, colon cleansing, and all the | | | | don't have to count every calorie, but if you |
| other "weight loss miracles" that tend to pop up | | | | know what range of calories you should be |
| every few months don't work. Not long term. | | | | getting per day, keep an eye on the calories of |
| And, really, long term weight loss is everyone's | | | | the things you buy. Surely, there are some |
| goal. No one wants to lose weight for a month | | | | vegetables you enjoy eating. Eat some more, |
| and then gain it all back. | | | | replace that ice cream sunday with your favorite |
| So, what is the secret to long term weight loss? | | | | vegetable. This doesn't mean you can't "cheat", |
| Hard work. That's right, you're going to have to | | | | just make a conscious effort to eat more |
| put some effort into it. This turns a lot of people | | | | reasonably and more healthy. Weight loss starts in |
| off, but it doesn't have to be as hard as it seems. | | | | the kitchen. When you get into the habit of eating |
| So, where to begin? Here are some weight loss | | | | healthy, it becomes easier and easier. |
| tips that are guaranteed to get you on track to | | | | Cardio! Cardio! Cardio! |
| lose the extra pounds for good. | | | | Yes, the dreaded exercise! Along with healthy |
| Set a goal | | | | eating, exercise is the other extremely important |
| Setting a goal is one of the easiest ways to start | | | | component of weight loss. The more the better, |
| losing weight and it doesn't take a lot of effort. | | | | but don't feel like you have to run the mile on |
| Simply visit a website like and calculate the | | | | your first day. Set a goal. Your goal could be 10 |
| healthy weight for a person your age and height. | | | | minutes of cardio per day. Running, jumping jacks, |
| Once you've found a weight that seems like a | | | | pushups, whatever exercise you enjoy that gets |
| reasonable goal, give yourself a time frame. Don't | | | | your heart pumping. Set a goal to do that |
| plan on losing 50 pounds in two weeks. Any | | | | exercise or a combination of exercises for 10 |
| program that claims drastic weight loss is not | | | | minutes per day. Find an ideal time and do it for a |
| telling you the whole truth and is definitely not | | | | week. You'll find that it isn't that hard to fit it in |
| healthy. Losing 2 pounds a week for a long period | | | | and it gets easier. Then make it 15 minutes, etc... |
| of time and keeping it off is better than losing 20 | | | | until you're doing 45 mins to an hour of cardio per |
| a week and gaining it all back. | | | | day. You don't have to do it every day, but make |
| Analyze your diet | | | | an effort to exercise several times per week. |
| The word "diet" is often an off-putting word for | | | | If you follow these simple rules (set goals, eat |
| people. Most think of eating things they don't like | | | | healthier, exercise regularly), you are guaranteed |
| and drinking those nasty meal replacement | | | | to lose weight. It is how our bodies are made. |
| shakes. The fact is, "diet" doesn't have to be a | | | | Once the weight starts coming off, the more |
| temporary weight loss tactic. Your diet is what | | | | encouraged we become and the easier it is to |
| you eat daily. Modifying your diet is one of the | | | | continue. Set your first goal today and get |
| largest components of weight loss. Look at what | | | | started. Weigh yourself again in a month and be |
| you eat on a daily basis. How many soda's do you | | | | pleasantly surprised at the weight you've lost. |