Talk to your doctor if you need help addressing stressors or emotions that seem like obstacles to your readiness. When you're ready, you'll find it easier to set goals, stay committed and change habits.

No one else can make you lose weight. You must undertake diet and exercise changes to please yourself. What's going to give you the burning drive to stick to your weight-loss plan?

Make a list of what's important to you to help you stay motivated and focused, whether it's an upcoming vacation or better overall health.

Then find a way to make sure that you can call on your motivational factors during moments of temptation. You might want to post an encouraging note to yourself on the pantry door or refrigerator, for instance. While you have to take responsibility for your own behavior for successful weight loss, it helps to have support — of the right kind.

Pick people to support you who will encourage you in positive ways, without shame, embarrassment or sabotage. Ideally, find people who will listen to your concerns and feelings, spend time exercising with you or creating healthy menus, and share the priority you've placed on developing a healthier lifestyle.

Your support group can also offer accountability, which can be a strong motivation for sticking to your weight-loss goals. If you prefer to keep your weight-loss plans private, be accountable to yourself by having regular weigh-ins, recording your diet and exercise progress in a journal, or tracking your progress using digital tools.

It may seem obvious to set realistic weight-loss goals. But do you really know what's realistic? Over the long term, it's smart to aim for losing 1 to 2 pounds 0. Generally to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week, you need to burn to 1, calories more than you consume each day, through a lower calorie diet and regular physical activity.

If you weigh pounds 82 kilograms , that's 9 pounds 4 kilograms. Even this level of weight loss can help lower your risk of chronic health problems, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

When you're setting goals, think about both process and outcome goals. It isn't essential that you have an outcome goal, but you should set process goals because changing your habits is a key to weight loss.

Adopting a new eating style that promotes weight loss must include lowering your total calorie intake. But decreasing calories need not mean giving up taste, satisfaction or even ease of meal preparation.

One way you can lower your calorie intake is by eating more plant-based foods — fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to help you achieve your goals without giving up taste or nutrition.

While you can lose weight without exercise, regular physical activity plus calorie restriction can help give you the weight-loss edge. Exercise can help burn off the excess calories you can't cut through diet alone.

Exercise also offers numerous health benefits, including boosting your mood, strengthening your cardiovascular system and reducing your blood pressure. Exercise can also help in maintaining weight loss. Studies show that people who maintain their weight loss over the long term get regular physical activity.

How many calories you burn depends on the frequency, duration and intensity of your activities. One of the best ways to lose body fat is through steady aerobic exercise — such as brisk walking — for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.

Some people may require more physical activity than this to lose weight and maintain that weight loss. Any extra movement helps burn calories. Think about ways you can increase your physical activity throughout the day if you can't fit in formal exercise on a given day.

For example, make several trips up and down stairs instead of using the elevator, or park at the far end of the lot when shopping. It's not enough to eat healthy foods and exercise for only a few weeks or even months if you want long-term, successful weight management.

These habits must become a way of life. Lifestyle changes start with taking an honest look at your eating patterns and daily routine. After assessing your personal challenges to weight loss, try working out a strategy to gradually change habits and attitudes that have sabotaged your past efforts.

Then move beyond simply recognizing your challenges — plan for how you'll deal with them if you're going to succeed in losing weight once and for all. You likely will have an occasional setback. But instead of giving up entirely after a setback, simply start fresh the next day.

Remember that you're planning to change your life. It won't happen all at once. Stick to your healthy lifestyle and the results will be worth it. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.

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Request Appointment. Healthy Lifestyle Weight loss. Sections Basics Weight-loss basics Diet plans The Mayo Clinic Diet Diet and exercise Diet pills, supplements and surgery In-Depth Expert Answers Multimedia Resources News From Mayo Clinic What's New. The Mediterranean diet is more than just about food, though.

Regular physical activity and sharing meals with others are also major components. Whatever weight loss strategy you try, it's important to stay motivated and avoid common dieting pitfalls, such as emotional eating. We don't always eat simply to satisfy hunger.

All too often, we turn to food when we're stressed or anxious, which can wreck any diet and pack on the pounds. Do you eat when you're worried, bored, or lonely? Do you snack in front of the TV at the end of a stressful day? Recognizing your emotional eating triggers can make all the difference in your weight-loss efforts.

If you eat when you're:. Stressed — find healthier ways to calm yourself. Try yoga, meditation, or soaking in a hot bath.

Low on energy — find other mid-afternoon pick-me-ups. Try walking around the block, listening to energizing music, or taking a short nap.

Lonely or bored — reach out to others instead of reaching for the refrigerator. Call a friend who makes you laugh, take your dog for a walk, or go to the library, mall, or park—anywhere there's people.

BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours. Avoid distractions while eating. Try not to eat while working, watching TV, or driving.

It's too easy to mindlessly overeat. Pay attention. Eat slowly , savoring the smells and textures of your food. If your mind wanders, gently return your attention to your food and how it tastes.

Mix things up to focus on the experience of eating. Try using chopsticks rather than a fork, or use your utensils with your non-dominant hand.

Stop eating before you are full. It takes time for the signal to reach your brain that you've had enough. Don't feel obligated to always clean your plate. Permanent weight loss requires making healthy changes to your lifestyle and food choices.

To stay motivated:. Find a cheering section. Social support means a lot. Programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers use group support to impact weight loss and lifelong healthy eating. Seek out support—whether in the form of family, friends, or a support group—to get the encouragement you need.

Slow and steady wins the race. Losing weight too fast can take a toll on your mind and body, making you feel sluggish, drained, and sick.

Aim to lose one to two pounds a week so you're losing fat rather than water and muscle. Set goals to keep you motivated. Short-term goals, like wanting to fit into a bikini for the summer, usually don't work as well as wanting to feel more confident or become healthier for your children's sakes.

When temptation strikes, focus on the benefits you'll reap from being healthier. Use tools to track your progress. Smartphone apps, fitness trackers, or simply keeping a journal can help you keep track of the food you eat, the calories you burn, and the weight you lose.

Seeing the results in black and white can help you stay motivated. Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep stimulates your appetite so you want more food than normal; at the same time, it stops you feeling satisfied, making you want to keep eating. Sleep deprivation can also affect your motivation, so aim for eight hours of quality sleep a night.

Whether or not you're specifically aiming to cut carbs, most of us consume unhealthy amounts of sugar and refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pizza dough, pasta, pastries, white flour, white rice, and sweetened breakfast cereals.

Replacing refined carbs with their whole-grain counterparts and eliminating candy and desserts is only part of the solution, though. Sugar is hidden in foods as diverse as canned soups and vegetables, pasta sauce, margarine, and many reduced fat foods.

Since your body gets all it needs from sugar naturally occurring in food, all this added sugar amounts to nothing but a lot of empty calories and unhealthy spikes in your blood glucose. Calories obtained from fructose found in sugary beverages such as soda and processed foods like doughnuts, muffins, and candy are more likely to add to fat around your belly.

Cutting back on sugary foods can mean a slimmer waistline as well as a lower risk of diabetes. Even if you're cutting calories, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to eat less food. High-fiber foods such as fruit, vegetables, beans, and whole grains are higher in volume and take longer to digest, making them filling—and great for weight-loss.

It's generally okay to eat as much fresh fruit and non-starchy vegetables as you want—you'll feel full before you've overdone it on the calories. Eat vegetables raw or steamed , not fried or breaded, and dress them with herbs and spices or a little olive oil for flavor.

Add fruit to low sugar cereal —blueberries, strawberries, sliced bananas. You'll still enjoy lots of sweetness, but with fewer calories, less sugar, and more fiber. Bulk out sandwiches by adding healthy veggie choices like lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, cucumbers, and avocado.

Add more veggies to your favorite main courses to make your dish more substantial. Even pasta and stir-fries can be diet-friendly if you use less noodles and more vegetables. Start your meal with salad or vegetable soup to help fill you up so you eat less of your entrée.

Set yourself up for weight-loss success by taking charge of your food environment: when you eat, how much you eat, and what foods you make easily available. Cook your own meals at home. This allows you to control both portion size and what goes in to the food.

Restaurant and packaged foods generally contain a lot more sugar, unhealthy fat, and calories than food cooked at home —plus the portion sizes tend to be larger. Serve yourself smaller portions. Use small plates, bowls, and cups to make your portions appear larger.

Don't eat out of large bowls or directly from food containers, which makes it difficult to assess how much you've eaten. Eat early. Studies suggest that consuming more of your daily calories at breakfast and fewer at dinner can help you drop more pounds. Eating a larger, healthy breakfast can jump-start your metabolism, stop you feeling hungry during the day, and give you more time to burn off the calories.

Fast for 14 hours a day. Try to eat dinner earlier in the day and then fast until breakfast the next morning. Eating only when you're most active and giving your digestion a long break may aid weight loss.

Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. You can create your own small portion snacks in plastic bags or containers. Eating on a schedule will help you avoid eating when you aren't truly hungry. Drink more water. Thirst can often be confused with hunger, so by drinking water you can avoid extra calories.

Limit the amount of tempting foods you have at home. If you share a kitchen with non-dieters, store indulgent foods out of sight. The degree to which exercise aids weight loss is open to debate, but the benefits go way beyond burning calories.

Exercise can increase your metabolism and improve your outlook—and it's something you can benefit from right now. Go for a walk, stretch, move around and you'll have more energy and motivation to tackle the other steps in your weight-loss program.

Lack time for a long workout? Three minute spurts of exercise per day can be just as good as one minute workout. Remember: anything is better than nothing.

Start off slowly with small amounts of physical activity each day. Then, as you start to lose weight and have more energy, you'll find it easier to become more physically active.

Find exercise you enjoy. Try walking with a friend, dancing, hiking, cycling, playing Frisbee with a dog, enjoying a pickup game of basketball, or playing activity-based video games with your kids. Far from it. Since it was established in , The National Weight Control Registry NWCR in the United States, has tracked over 10, individuals who have lost significant amounts of weight and kept it off for long periods of time.

Whatever diet you use to lose weight in the first place, adopting these habits may help you to keep it off:. How choosing healthier carbs can improve your health and waistline. This diet can help fight heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, and more.

How focusing on the experience of eating can improve your diet. Tips for building a fitness plan, and finding the best exercises for you. BetterHelp makes starting therapy easy. Take the assessment and get matched with a professional, licensed therapist.

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One study found that consistent tracking of physical activity helped with weight loss. Even a device as simple as a pedometer can be a useful weight-loss tool.

Mindful eating is a practice where people pay attention to how and where they eat food. This practice can enable people to enjoy the food they eat and may help to promote weight loss.

As most people lead busy lives, they often tend to eat quickly on the run, in the car, working at their desks, and watching TV. As a result, many people are barely aware of the food they are eating.

Protein can regulate appetite hormones to help people feel full. This is mostly due to a decrease in the hunger hormone ghrelin and a rise in the satiety hormones peptide YY, GLP-1, and cholecystokinin. Research on young adults has also demonstrated that the hormonal effects of eating a high protein breakfast can last for several hours.

Good choices for a high protein breakfast include eggs, oats, nut and seed butters, quinoa porridge, sardines, and chia seed pudding. The Western diet is increasingly high in added sugars, which has definite links to obesity , even when the sugar occurs in beverages rather than food.

These include white rice, white bread, and regular pasta. These foods are quick to digest, and they convert to glucose rapidly. Excess glucose enters the blood and provokes the hormone insulin , which promotes fat storage in the adipose tissue.

This contributes to weight gain. A study links the consumption of more refined grains with weight gain. Studies show that whole grains are more likely to reduce hunger and increase fullness, which could lead to decreases in calorie intake.

Where possible, people should swap highly processed and sugary foods for more nutritionally dense options. Good food swaps include:. Dietary fiber describes plant-based carbohydrates that are impossible to digest in the small intestine, unlike sugar and starch. Including plenty of fiber in the diet can increase the feeling of fullness, potentially leading to weight loss.

One emerging area of research is focusing on the role of bacteria in the gut on weight management. The human gut hosts a vast number and variety of microorganisms, including around 39 trillion bacteria.

Every individual has different types and amounts of bacteria in their gut. Some types may increase the amount of energy the person extracts from food , leading to fat deposition and weight gain. Numerous studies have shown that getting fewer than 5—6 hours of sleep per night is associated with an increased incidence of obesity.

There are several reasons behind this. Research suggests that insufficient or poor-quality sleep slows down the process in which the body converts calories to energy, called metabolism. When metabolism is less effective, the body may store unused energy as fat.

In addition, poor sleep can promote insulin resistance and increase levels of cortisol, which also promote fat storage. How long someone sleeps also affects the regulation of the appetite-controlling hormones leptin and ghrelin. Leptin sends signals of fullness to the brain. However, when people are under constant stress, cortisol can remain in the bloodstream for longer, which will increase their appetite and potentially lead to them eating more.

Insulin then transports the sugar from carbohydrates from the blood to the muscles and brain. If the individual does not use this sugar in fight or flight, the body will store it as fat. If an individual does not immediately use this sugar, the body will either store it is glycogen, the storage form of glucose, or fat.

Researchers found that implementing an 8-week stress-management intervention program alongside a low-calorie diet resulted in a significant reduction in the body mass index BMI of children and adolescents who were overweight or have obesity.

Losing 10 pounds in 3 days is an unrealistic goal for most people and could entail unsafe dieting behaviors. Rapid weight loss like this may also make it more likely that someone will put weight back on, rather than losing the weight permanently.

To lose 20 pounds in a month, people must burn more calories than they take in, either through dietary changes or increased physical activity.

However, rapid weight loss like this may not be a viable long-term option and could increase the risk of health complications, such as gallstones. Losing weight too quickly may also increase the risk of certain health complications, such as gallstones, or complications associated with unhealthy dieting behaviors, such as dehydration or nutritional deficiencies.

People who experience rapid weight loss may be more likely to put weight back on in the future. The CDC recommends that people aim for steady, gradual weight loss of around 1—2 pounds per week.

This should include 10 portions of fruit and vegetables, good quality protein, and whole grains. It is also beneficial to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. Losing weight effectively and avoiding weight regain involves a number of factors.

Learn how to lose weight here. Fad diets and rapid weight loss can be unsafe and often lead to people regaining the weight later on. In this article, learn how to lose weight safely…. One capsule is able to turn an entire glass of water into gel.

Liquid calories come from beverages like sugary soft drinks , fruit juices , chocolate milk , and energy drinks.

These drinks can have a negative impact on your health in several ways, including an increased risk of obesity. Refined carbs are carbs that have had most of their beneficial nutrients and fiber removed.

The refining process leaves nothing but easily digested carbs, which can increase the risk of overeating and disease 36 , The main dietary sources of refined carbs are white flour, white bread , white rice , sodas, pastries, snacks, sweets, pasta, breakfast cereals , and added sugar.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. There are a few different ways to do intermittent fasting, including the diet , the method , and the eat-stop-eat method. Generally, these methods make you eat fewer calories overall, without having to consciously restrict calories during the eating periods.

This should lead to weight loss, as well as numerous other health benefits Drinking green tea is linked with many benefits, such as increased fat burning and weight loss 39 , Matcha tea is a variety of powdered green tea that may have even more powerful health benefits than regular green tea.

Fruits and vegetables are extremely nutritious, weight-loss-friendly foods. In addition to being high in water, nutrients, and fiber, they usually have very low energy density. This makes it possible to eat large servings without consuming excess calories.

Numerous studies have shown that people who eat more fruits and vegetables tend to weigh less 45 , There are several effective ways to do this, including counting calories , keeping a food diary , or taking pictures of what you eat 47 , 48 , Using an app or another electronic tool may be even more beneficial than writing in a food diary 50 , Some studies have shown that using smaller plates helps you eat less, because it changes how you see portion sizes 52 , People seem to fill their plates the same, regardless of plate size, so they end up putting more food on larger plates than smaller ones Using smaller plates reduces how much food you eat, while giving you the perception of having eaten more Many studies have shown that low-carb diets are effective for weight loss.

Limiting carbs and eating more fat and protein reduces your appetite and helps you eat fewer calories This can result in weight loss that is up to 3 times greater than that from a standard low-fat diet 57 , A low-carb diet can also improve many risk factors for disease. Fast eaters are much more likely to develop obesity, compared to those who eat more slowly Chewing more slowly may help you eat fewer calories and increase the production of hormones that are linked to weight loss 62 , Eggs are the ultimate weight loss food.

High-protein foods have been shown to reduce appetite and increase fullness, compared to foods that contain less protein 64 , 65 , 66 , It may also help you eat fewer calories throughout the rest of the day 4 , 5 , 6 , Chili peppers and jalapeños contain a compound called capsaicin , which may boost metabolism and increase the burning of fat 68 , 69 , 70 , Capsaicin may also reduce appetite and calorie intake 68 , Probiotics are live bacteria that have health benefits when eaten.

They can improve digestive health and heart health , and may even help with with weight loss 73 , Studies have shown that people who are overweight and people who have obesity tend to have different gut bacteria than average-weight people, which may influence weight 75 , 76 , Probiotics may help regulate the healthy gut bacteria.

They may also block the absorption of dietary fat, while reducing appetite and inflammation 78 , 79 , Of all the probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus gasseri shows the most promising effects on weight loss 81 , 82 , Getting enough sleep is incredibly important for weight loss, as well as to prevent future weight gain.

This number is even higher for children This is partly because sleep deprivation disrupts the daily fluctuations in appetite hormones , leading to poor appetite regulation 85 , Fiber-rich foods may help with weight loss. Foods that contain water-soluble fiber may be especially helpful, since this type of fiber can help increase the feeling of fullness.

Fiber may delay stomach emptying, make the stomach expand and promote the release of satiety hormones 87 , 88 , This can help you eat less without having to think about it. Many types of fiber can feed the friendly gut bacteria. Healthy gut bacteria have been linked with a reduced risk of obesity 90 , 91 , Just make sure to increase your fiber intake gradually to avoid abdominal discomfort, such as bloating , cramps , and diarrhea.

Many people brush or floss their teeth or use mouthwash after eating. Dental hygiene products can temporarily affect the taste of food and beverages, which may help limit the desire to snack or eat between meals Food addiction involves overpowering cravings and changes in your brain chemistry that make it harder to resist eating certain foods.

This is a major cause of overeating for many people, and affects a significant percentage of the population. Some foods are much more likely to cause symptoms of addiction than others.

This includes highly processed junk foods that are high in sugar, fat, or both. Consulting with a healthcare professional can help. Cardio has been shown to improve many risk factors for heart disease.

It can also help reduce body weight 95 , Cardio seems to be particularly effective at reducing the fat that builds up around your organs and causes metabolic disease 97 , Loss of muscle mass is a common side effect of dieting. If you lose a lot of muscle, your body will start burning fewer calories than before 99 , Resistance exercises, like lifting weights , can help prevent this loss in muscle mass , Most people get enough protein from diet alone.

One study shows that replacing part of your calories with whey protein can cause significant weight loss, while also increasing lean muscle mass , Just make sure to read the ingredients list, because some varieties are loaded with sugar and other additives. Mindful eating is a method used to increase awareness while eating.

It helps you make conscious food choices and develop awareness of your hunger and satiety cues. It then helps you eat well in response to those cues Mindful eating has been shown to have significant effects on weight, eating behavior, and stress in individuals who have obesity.

By making conscious food choices, increasing your awareness, and listening to your body, weight loss should follow. Dieting is one of those things that almost always fails in the long term. Instead of focusing only on losing weight, make it a primary goal to nourish your body with nutritious food and daily movement.

Doctors recommend a weight loss of no more than pounds per week, so losing 20 pounds in one month is not a health goal and may be harmful, especially if you have any chronic health conditions. Doctors recommend a weight loss of no more than pounds per week. Trying to lose 10 pounds in one week may be harmful to you, especially if you have any chronic health conditions.

Creating a long-term plan for reaching healthy diet and fitness goals may be a more effective way to reach your desired weight. There are many natural methods that can promote weight loss and help you reach a healthy weight. Here are 29 science-back, natural ways to help.

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New research suggests that running may not aid much with weight loss, but it can help you keep from gaining weight as you age. Here's why.