All of us attach great importance to our physical appearance, either consciously or subconsciously. We all wish to be in shape and shed any extra weight that we might have gained. A good body enhances your physical appearance and is a morale booster for many, making them feel good and confident from within. There are different methods that people resort to in order to lose weight; some hit the gym, go on a diet, exercise, and others use pills or herbal remedies.

Gym

However, it is a known fact that losing weight is not as difficult as keeping it off. Many so-called weight-loss solutions are effective only in the short term. They are useless when it comes to maintaining a healthy body weight in the long run. This is because many weight loss plans are impractical. Crash diets and other high intensity weight loss programs are unsustainable. While they may help you get rid of several pounds in a short span of time, as soon as you get off the program, the pounds will creep right back. In addition, such programs are unhealthy and damage your confidence in being able to lose weight.

A healthy, long-term diet is first on the list of weight loss tools. Do not starve yourself, skip meals, or embark on a severely restrictive diet. Simply practice moderation and discipline. Eating breakfast is strongly recommended if you want to lose weight and keep it off, primarily because it prevents you from overeating throughout the day. The National Weight Control Registry keeps track of those who have managed to keep off 30 pounds for a minimum of one year. Out of these individuals, 78 percent of them eat breakfast every day.

Over the rest of the day, you should eat small meals, only when you are hungry. Avoid high fat foods and simple carbohydrates such as white bread, cakes, pastries and sweets, as well as colas and other fizzy drinks. Water is the best drink to quench your thirst because you are directly cutting down on your calorie intake and moreover keeping yourself hydrated. In addition to a healthy diet, regular exercise is of course necessary to burn calories. Here too, do not push yourself too hard, aiming to get fit within a month or two. Adopt an exercise schedule that your body can handle, and that you will be able to stick to. In fact, it is advisable that you choose a form of exercise that you enjoy, as you are less likely to skip sessions. You can start with as little as half an hour of exercise, and gradually work up to an hour or more as your body becomes more fit.