Things You'll Need:
- Notebook and pencil to record everything eaten.
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Step 1
I found that the easiest way to lose weight is by eating a varied diet of fruits, vegetables and a limited amount of meat, plus count calories.
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Step 2
Use a good calorie counting program that will track everything you eat and drink during the day. It should also record calories burned through exercise.
The best program I have found is My Food Diary, http://www.myfooddiary.com/ which costs $10 per month and is well worth the cost.
Use this program properly and it should be possible to lose 1 pound per week. My Food Diary tries to change dietary habits for the long term. It is not one of those quickie diets which take weight off this month, only to gain it back later.. -
Step 3
When you start, the program will ask details regarding gender, weight, etc. and what is your target weight. I would advise not making the target unrealistic. Set it at 10 to 20 pounds below your current weight. You can always reset the target later.
Each day, record exactly what you have eaten. Don't miss anything, no matter how minor it was.
Also keep track of exercise - what kind and how long. I'm able to burn quite a few calories by working in the garden, shopping and walking.
Be sure to include evening snacks. You will be surprised at how many calories may be consumed during an evening of watching TV. Baby carrots and fruit make good TV snacks. -
Step 4
I find it best for me to enter, just before dinner, everything I have eaten and my exercise for the day. If I have eaten too much food or too much unhealthy junk, guilt sets in and I reduce the evening junk food.
Before bedtime, I add the rest of what I have eaten for the day.
When I stay with the counting and eat properly, I really do lose about a pound per week. This does require quite a bit of exercise, however.
There is no magic pill. -
Step 5
You may wish to see my recipe article for non-cooks in additional resources below.
Comments
rexharris said
on 9/28/2009 I couldn't agree more! On last weeks episode of The Bigger Lose Jillian said something that really made sense when it comes to calories and weight loss, "The universal truth to weight loss (this is the foundation of any program) is calories in, calories out. The way we manipulate our diet will allow us to get more calories out before we touch exercise. We accelerate weight loss (gym)… through calories out, calories out." Jillian Michaels
Excellent article, thanks for sharing!
jonathanfb said
on 9/26/2009 Good tips, I actually used a variation of this system with a lot of success.
karileighk said
on 6/22/2009 Also I have found out that flatout bread the low calorie kind is a wonderful way to lose weight. Great tips.
wdk40 said
on 6/4/2009 It takes dedication. I think the most important part of it is the exercise.
ceopccinc said
on 5/30/2009 nice article...guess I'm blessed to have a very high metabolism so have never had to diet