How to Lose Weight Effectively

If you are overweight, chances are good that you have tried every diet plan out there, from low carb to high carb, and failed miserably. Maybe you have tried many different diet pills, only to discover that they make you suffer from the jitters and leave you wasted after a huge energy crash. The answer to lasting weight loss is not a diet fad or diet pills. Here is how to lose weight successfully.

First, establish healthy eating patterns. This is not as easy as it sounds. You have spent your entire lifetime building the eating habits you currently have. They are not going to change overnight.

The first place to focus is on portion sizes. If you are like most Americans, you are eating far more than you need to at each meal. Even if you eat the healthiest foods on the planet, if you overeat, you will not lose weight. A good way to start is to take your normal portion and cut it in half. Chances are you will be full at the end of the meal. Be sure to stop between servings, because it takes at least 20 minutes for the "I'm full" signal to reach your brain. If you wolf down your food, you will overeat before your brain even knows that you are full.

Remember, it is healthier to eat around five small meals or snacks each day. Instead of eating a huge breakfast, lunch, and dinner, focus on slimming down those portions and then adding in some healthy snacks. For your snacks, focus on foods that calm hunger, not cravings. Sugar packed foods will do nothing for your hunger. Veggies, cheese, and whole grains will.

Once you have gotten your eating under control, start adding exercise into your daily lifestyle. Exercise is essential to losing weight, yet many Americans get far too little of it. We are simply too busy, and our jobs are simply too sedentary. We spend our time sitting at a computer, driving to and from our homes, and relaxing in front of the TV. Invest in some exercise equipment that you can use at home. Then, take the opportunity to exercise whenever you can. Park far from the store so you can walk, or take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Besides this, you need to exercise at least 30 minutes 3 times a week. This will burn off many calories and help you lose weight. Losing weight in this manner takes time, but when the weight comes off it will generally stay off, whereas the weight you lose with a diet fad or pill will come off quickly but come back on just as quickly.

There are many Free Diet Programs available including the Low Carb Diet. Whatever diet you choose you need to keep track of your calorie intake with a Calorie Counter