When it comes to weight loss, there's no shortage of diet plans. Check any magazine rack, and you're bound to see the latest and greatest diet plans. But how do you know if a diet plan fits your needs and lifestyle? Ask yourself these questions about any diet plan you're considering. Does it:
* Include various foods from the major food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, lean protein sources, nuts and seeds?
* Include foods you like and that you would enjoy eating for a lifetime — not just for several weeks or months?
* Feature foods you can easily find in your local grocery store?
* Allow you to eat your favorite foods, or better yet, all foods?
* Fit your lifestyle and budget?
* Include proper amounts of nutrients and calories to help you lose weight safely and effectively?
* Encourage regular physical activity?
If you answer no to any of these questions, keep looking. There are better diet plans out there for you.
Diet and exercise
How can you lose weight? With diet and exercise. The key to success is developing healthy diet and exercise habits. You may be thinking that you don't like those words — diet and exercise. Don't get hung up on the words. Diet just means eating healthy, lower calorie meals. Exercise means being more active.
Although people often focus on diet when they're trying to lose weight, being active also is an essential component of a weight-loss program. When you're active, your body uses energy (calories) to work, helping to burn the calories you take in with food you eat.
Cleaning the house, making the bed, shopping, mowing and gardening are all forms of physical activity. Exercise, on the other hand, is a structured and repetitive form of physical activity that you do on a regular basis.
Whatever activity you choose, do it regularly. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week.
Diet pills, supplements and surgery
Diet pills and surgery can help with weight loss — when combined with a healthy diet and physical activity. But diet pills aren't for everyone. Neither is surgery. In fact, many doctors consider them only if you have weight-related health problemsIf you're in that group, you and your doctor need to carefully evaluate the potential benefits of diet pills or surgery and weigh them against the possible long-term risks. Your doctor will also counsel you about the lifestyle changes you'll need to make to be successful over the long term.
A word of caution: Although you can find diet pills and supplements at your local drugstore, supermarket or health food store and online, most haven't been proved safe and effective. And some are downright dangerous. Talk with your doctor before taking any diet pills or supplements
* Include various foods from the major food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, lean protein sources, nuts and seeds?
* Include foods you like and that you would enjoy eating for a lifetime — not just for several weeks or months?
* Feature foods you can easily find in your local grocery store?
* Allow you to eat your favorite foods, or better yet, all foods?
* Fit your lifestyle and budget?
* Include proper amounts of nutrients and calories to help you lose weight safely and effectively?
* Encourage regular physical activity?
If you answer no to any of these questions, keep looking. There are better diet plans out there for you.
Diet and exercise
How can you lose weight? With diet and exercise. The key to success is developing healthy diet and exercise habits. You may be thinking that you don't like those words — diet and exercise. Don't get hung up on the words. Diet just means eating healthy, lower calorie meals. Exercise means being more active.
Although people often focus on diet when they're trying to lose weight, being active also is an essential component of a weight-loss program. When you're active, your body uses energy (calories) to work, helping to burn the calories you take in with food you eat.
Cleaning the house, making the bed, shopping, mowing and gardening are all forms of physical activity. Exercise, on the other hand, is a structured and repetitive form of physical activity that you do on a regular basis.
Whatever activity you choose, do it regularly. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week.
Diet pills, supplements and surgery
Diet pills and surgery can help with weight loss — when combined with a healthy diet and physical activity. But diet pills aren't for everyone. Neither is surgery. In fact, many doctors consider them only if you have weight-related health problemsIf you're in that group, you and your doctor need to carefully evaluate the potential benefits of diet pills or surgery and weigh them against the possible long-term risks. Your doctor will also counsel you about the lifestyle changes you'll need to make to be successful over the long term.
A word of caution: Although you can find diet pills and supplements at your local drugstore, supermarket or health food store and online, most haven't been proved safe and effective. And some are downright dangerous. Talk with your doctor before taking any diet pills or supplements
