Simple Steps to Make Your Weight Loss Program a Success!

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When starting a weight loss program there can be many distractions. It can be very confusing trying to pick a good weight loss program among the thousands that exist today. I suggest that you stay away from the "Fad" diets (like grapefruit or banana diets) and any "Pre-packaged Food" diets like those provided from Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or Nutrasystem. The pre-packaged diets are designed to keep you buying their food products for years at $300 or more a month. You will see weight loss but these systems are not teaching how to eat in the real world, so when you leave the program, you return to the weight gain yo-yo affect.

A truly good weight loss program will teach you how to eat in the REAL WORLD and lose that weight safely without the added costs of monthly program fees or special food costs. A real program that works will have tools that you will learn and can apply to your everyday life whether you are eating at home or at a restaurant. Many good programs will even have meal planners and shopping list generators to make your life easier.

Once you have a good program and an easy exercise routine (30 minutes/3 times a week) like going for a walk, you can take the simple steps below to help make sure your weight loss program will be a success.

Step # 1: Do not expect to lose FAT quickly! A single pound of fat equals approximately 3500 calories and it takes time to burn that kind of fat from your body. Pick realistic weight loss goals (2-3 lbs a week) and you will not lose motivation to continue. Any weight loss above 3 lbs a week tends to be mostly lost water weight.

Step # 2: Always eat balanced meals, especially a healthy breakfast every morning. If you skip a meal, your body will think that you are in a famine and will use body proteins to function. It will attack the easiest and fastest source of proteins, which is found in your muscles. When you finally eat, your body will immediately store any excess food energy as FAT because it believes it need to be prepared for a possible extended famine. Do not skip any meals, as this is the fastest ways to kill any weight loss program!

Step # 3: Be sure to do some sort of physical activity for at least 30 minutes, 3 days a week to boost the rate of your weight loss. The exercise does not need to be extreme. Do something that you enjoy and you will see benefits. It can be something as simple as going for a walk. It is not the intensity of the exercise, it is doing it that matters.

Step # 4: As the saying goes, 'Misery Loves Company'. For most of us, it is hard to remain motivated when we do something alone especially if it is something that we might not enjoy. Set up a weight loss team or have a friend along for the ride as a co-weight loss partner. This can be a very positive experience as you can help each other reach your goals.

Step # 5: Your body needs time to recover from your days activities. Thankfully, your body has a solution for this. It is called SLEEP. Make sure you get the required 7-8 hours of sleep each day.

Step # 6: If you have a special event such as a wedding or family holiday coming up, focus your weight loss goals on that event and you will work harder to achieve that goal. Remember to keep your goal realistic.

Step # 7: If you find if hard to stay motivated for your exercise time, try working out to music. If you work out at a gym, at home or outside, music will help you pass the time and keeps you moving. Pick some of your favorites with lots of energy and you will find those 30-minute workouts just fly by.

Follow these simple steps and you will see results in your efforts to lose weight.