How to Lose Weight - Easy and Safe

I was headed to Hawaii in this past April and knew I needed to lose about 20 pounds to feel better about myself in a bikini. Here's how I did it, in 3 months, with a little exercise and a major focus on eating foods that are good for your body. These tips will also help you avoid the "freshman 15" or maintain a healthy weight.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Grocery store
• Will power
• Commitment
• Refrigerator
• Foods that are good for you

1. Change your mindset. The first step is to believe you can lose weight and make a goal (for example: I want to lose 20 pounds). Start believing in yourself and your ability to lose weight immediately.

2. Go to the grocery store. The rules on this eating plan are really simple - eat foods that are good for you. On my list I had strawberries, granola, fat free yogurt, eggs, fish (like salmon) spring mix salad, Kraft light or fat free salad dressing, chicken, carrots, celery, snow peas or snap peas, raspberries, peaches, almonds, bananas, dried fruit like apricots and cranberries and individual servings of low fat cheese.

3. Eat and drink right:
   1. Every day have at least one salad (with chicken) and one fruit, yogurt and granola parfait.
   2. Eat all the fruit and veggies you want.
   3. Be selective and limit the amount of nuts and cheese you eat.
   4. Drink only water, low carb energy drinks with lots of caffeine (I drank Low Carb Rockstar in the blue can). The caffeine helps to jump start your metabolism. No soda, no juice.

4. Meals:
   * Eggs with a little salsa or fat free cheese (I like mine scrambled) for breakfast.
   * A spring mix salad with 6 snow pea pods, a handful of almonds, chicken and dressing.
   * Fat free vanilla yogurt with granola and fruit(any kind of berry, mango, or bananas work well, but be creative!)
   Snacks:
   * Cheese
   * Fruits and veggies
   *Veggies

5. Mix it up - make sure you mix up what you put in your salads to keep things tasting new and different. Try spring mix lettuce with almonds, chicken, snow peas and Asian dressing one day. The next day, try a spring mix salad with grilled chicken, carrots, celery, broccoli, some shredded fat-free cheese and balsamic vinagarette.

6. Never skip breakfast. Eat whenever you are hungry, just be sure to make the right choices. Eat as much fruits and veggies as you want. Avoid "dipping" - no ranch with the veggies, no caramel with the fruit, etc. If you find you must dip, dip fruit in fat free yogurt.

7. Implement some moderate exercise. Honestly, I don't exercise all that much - a 2-mile hike at a local mountain 3 times a week is average for me. Some weeks I don't exercise at all and I still lose weight.

Tips & Warnings

• Shop at healthy food stores like Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or Fresh and Easy. Read the labels on all foods you purchase.
• Buy fat free or low fat cheese, yogurt and salad dressing.
• Eat enough lean protein.
• Eat healthy nuts (like almonds) for added protein.
• Buy a variety of fruits and veggies so you don't get bored eating the same things over and over again.
• Buy strips of chicken that are already grilled and ready to eat (you can find these in the meat section at the grocery) or grill your own chicken, cut into strips and store it in your fridge for easy access.
• You will find that if you eat this way (everything is very natural and healthy for your body) you will feel better. You will sleep better, be more focused at work and at home, wake up feeling refreshed and you will loose weight.
• You should talk to your doctor before trying to loose weight.
• If you eat this way for even a week, then have fast food or something that isn't very good for you, it will likely make you feel sick. Your body likes this kind of fuel, not the over-processed, preservative-laden, fried foods we love to eat.

[sonni57]

on 3/11/2009 Good advice on how to lose weight.

[static404]

on 3/4/2009 Excellent article. 5 stars!

[Smireles]

on 2/9/2009 Great tips. Thanks for the reminder to see your doctor before trying to lose weight.