The Reality Check Way to Lose Weight

Have you followed every diet invented but still struggled to lose weight? If you have tried and failed to lose those unwanted pounds maybe you have been following the wrong advice.

It never occurred to me to go on a diet or to think about my weight until I hit middle age and my waistline began to expand. When some health concerns surfaced caused by the extra few stones I was lugging around, I had to take a reality check.

Now I didn't have a clue how to diet and successfully lose weight so I thoroughly researched the subject. What I discovered isn't exactly rocket science, it is in fact more common sense and acceptance of what you probably already know but shy away from. Here is some of what I found and what helped me lose two and a half stones.

Weight is a balancing act in which calories play a huge part. Calories are either burned as fuel or stored as fat. So basically the more calories you consume over and above what you use or burn will add weight.

3500 calories equate to one pound of fat therefore if you consume 3500 calories per day but only burn 3000 you will gain one pound in weight every seven days!

Magic pills, fad diets and  celebrity eating plans are usually a waste of money and do not give long term weight loss as you will regain the pounds as soon as you stop using them. If you insist on spending money buy yourself a calorie counter book. Educate yourself on how many calories are in each food item then plan your meals.

Skipping meals is bad idea because unless you have an iron will and most of us haven't, you will eat more at other meals because you are hungry. You are also more prone to snacking and nibbling if you are peckish.

Use smaller plates. Yes, it is a psychological thing but it works. You will see a fully loaded plate but there will be less than if you used a full sized dinner plate so you consume less.

Change your mind. Not about losing weight but be prepared to change your whole attitude to food and what you eat. Losing weight successfully isn't cutting back for a few weeks then going back to you old ways. To succeed you must make changes and accept them for keeps.

Exercise. You now know eating more calories than you burn adds weight. Ensure you use more calories than you take in by getting physical. Vacuum for twenty minutes, always use stairs not lifts, walk as much as you can, dance, garden, chase the kids, basically be as active as you can and the weight will drop off.

Be realistic. Drastic weight loss can be dangerous. Aim at losing no more than two pounds a week. Frustrating though it might be to take many months or even years to achieve your goal a continual weight reduction is a fantastic effort and proves you are winning.

This simple approach allowed me to lose and keep of my excess weight and it can help you too. Be determined, stick with it and you will, like me, be successful.

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