Weight Loss Tools: Losing Weight and Keeping It Off

Are you one of the millions of people to whom the idea of weight loss is synonymous with starving yourself, learning to live without the foods you like the most or exercising until you collapse? Exercising and dieting can lean to weight loss, but if you want to lose weight and keep that weight off you need to find a sustainable way to do that. It could be time for a "lifestyle change" - but don't panic! This can be pretty easy if done correctly.

I know - you've heard that before. A "change in lifestyle" doesn't sound much more pleasant than "losing weight" but it can be. In the past you've probably been told that "moderation is key", and it is usually said in a negative context: "stop drinking so much", or "stop eating so much junk food". In this way moderation is usually meant to say that you should stop doing the things you enjoy so much.

When you apply moderation as a positive influence in your life it can hold the key to lifestyle transformation that is comfortable to implement, and weight loss that is gradual and maintainable.

Moderation can be difficult when applied to those negative habits and patterns in your life, but it can often be easily applied to those positive habits that may be difficult or impossible to maintain if applied in excess. Cutting sweets our of your diet will lead to weight loss, but who wants to do that forever? If you take up running you will lose weight, but for many that is impractical - for some it is dangerous!

Despite all of the current marketing hype surrounding miracle diets, it's a pretty well-established truth that your ability to lose weight depends upon balancing your caloric intake with expenditures - it boils down to diet and exercise. Dramatic changes in either can produce weight loss, but those changes are difficult or impossible to maintain.

The key is to implement positive change very slowly - so slowly that it is barely noticeable - and then increasing the change when and if comfortable. Here are four changes that you can make in your daily routine that can be implemented gradually, and that will lead to a healthier and slimmer you:

1) Drink lots of water. Did you know that, ideally, you should drink about 1/2 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day? That's a lot of water, but you don't have to start out with that much. Get a sixteen ounce water bottle and keep it with you wherever you go in the course of your day. See how many times you can drink the bottle completely and refill it. If you measure it - count the number of bottles - the amount you drink will naturally increase with little or no effort. Water is a great appetite suppressant, and is needed by your body to process food and function efficiently.

2) Increase your physical activity. No-brainer, right? But this is the most important step to moderate. Many people focus so much on their weight loss goal that they over-reach when setting goals for exercise or activity. Set goals that are difficult and you don't stand a chance of reaching or maintaining the levels that you can achieve by setting small and simple goals and then gradually increasing. Start by taking stairs when you can rather than an elevator. Walking is one of the most relaxing and beneficial habits that you can implement in your life and build upon to lose weight. When you're at work - walk. Have time in the morning before work? Go for a walk! You get home from work and you can sit down in front of the television or - go for a walk! Start short and slow, and then make it grow. If implemented correctly - start with a very short distance goal and an easy pace - walking can become one of the best parts of your day, and it will lead to weight loss.

3) Get more sleep! Sleep eight hours per night - or as close as you can come to that number. This is the time your body needs to maintain a healthy balance, and it'll help keep your appetite in check. Clinical studies have shown that there is a close correlation to lack of sleep and weight gain. Those deprived of sleep tend to opt for high calorie foods, and the hormones that regulate appetite and that full feeling you get right after a meal start to lie to you if you haven't had enough sleep.

4) Moderate your diet. This, of course, is one of the more difficult steps for many, but there are tools that you can use to ease this process and again - you don't have to do this all at once. You've already begun to drink more water, which will help suppress your appetite. Over-the-counter appetite suppressants can also help you to curb eating between meals as you adjust (over a course of weeks) your diet to include healthier foods. Choose a mild appetite suppressant and use it to supplement the steps above. As for particular foods, nutritionists agree that the more natural your food base is, the greater the positive influence in your diet will be. Choose natural foods when you can, don't try to change your diet overnight, and gradually moderate your caloric intake to match your level of activity.

There you have it - if you slowly and consistently implement the steps outlined above you will begin to change your lifestyle for the better, you'll feel better and you will begin to shed unwanted pounds. Best of all, since the change is gradual and progressive, you'll keep that weight off. Go slowly! Remember: moderation is key.

About the Author

Felicia has been researching and using weight loss products for over twenty years and is an expert in natural and healthy weight loss. Browse our site to purchase the finest products available in natural health care and natural weight loss products.