“I’m on a diet”. Do those words sound familiar? It is proven that “diets” do not work for long term weight loss. When you go on a diet, you tend to starve yourself, but your body needs food to produce energy. What you need is a lifestyle change, not a “diet”, to lose weight and keep it off.

A good way to lose weight is to start keeping a daily journal of the food you eat. By keeping a journal of the food you eat, you’ll be more inclined to stick with your diet and you can keep track of what foods you like and which ones you don’t like.

To assist with weight loss, try working weight training into your daily life. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn. Combining weight training with proper cardiovascular exercise are not only great for your overall health, but perfect compliments to a healthy diet. Although muscle does weigh more than fat, it is really fat loss that you are desiring and not weight. Consult your doctor before any major changes in your routine.

A tip that may help you lose weight is to eat right before you do your grocery shopping. A classic mistake people make is when they do all of their grocery shopping when they’re hungry. They get overzealous and end up getting more food than they normally would have.

Moderation is the key to successful weight loss. By setting realistic goals, such as a 1-2 pound loss weekly, eating a balanced diet of pure, whole foods, and drinking plenty of pure water, you will lose weight consistently, change your eating habits, attain your target weight and maintain it effortlessly.

Popcorn is a great snack for losing weight. Avoid movie theater popcorn or making popcorn with a lot of added butter or oils. Corn is a whole grain and whole grains are very important to consume when on a weight loss program. Buy or borrow popcorn air popper. The air popping method is very healthy. If the popcorn tastes too bland for you, try experimenting with spices or even adding Parmesan cheese to the popcorn for different taste ideas that are not fatty and laden with butters or oils.

A great tip to help you lose weight is to track your progress by using your belt. Scales can be very inaccurate when determining how fit you are, but your belt will let you know if you’re losing weight. If you have to increase a notch or two in your belt, then you are making great progress.

Working out on a stationary bike requires proper posture. Having the correct posture will help to work more muscles, help you improve your stamina, and give you even better results. While on the stationary bike your head should be lifted and you need to look forward. Also, keep your shoulders aligned with your torso and your chest up.

Eat your food slowly to help with your weight loss. One method to taking off the weight is eating slowly. It takes your brain 20 minutes from the time you begin eating to send signals of being full. If you eat fast, you often eat beyond your true level of fullness. Slow down, enjoy your meal, and you will be on your way to weight loss.

A great weight loss tip is to create packs of healthy food to carry with you at all times. These packs can have nuts, fruits or vegetables. If you have these packs, you will choose these when you are hungry instead of choosing an unhealthy option such as a fast food restaurant.

Order a small popcorn at the movie theater. People are very likely to eat more popcorn than they should in a dark theater. Resist the temptation to do the same by ordering a small popcorn. Also, make sure you skip the butter. Use the flavored salt some theaters offer instead.

Some restaurants make it easy to determine which choices will be smartest for those on a diet. Others, not so much. If the menu doesn’t make it clear, ask your server to indicate the healthiest choices available on the menu. If nothing looks appropriate, and that does happen, ask your server if they can make you up a fresh fruit plate or whether they have any vegetarian options. Restaurant cooks appreciate the chance to cook something off-menu, and you’ll get a healthier meal.

As you can see, it is important to eat. You need to make a lifestyle change in order to lose weight and keep it off. Food offers nutrients that are important to maintaining your body. No diet will offer you the nutrients your body needs. Only a lifestyle change will give you what your body needs and wants, and will help you lose weight.