Fast Weight Loss

There's no doubt that many people need to lose a few pounds. Look around where people gather, you'll notice the fat. Don't laugh. Unfortunately you're likely to see it in the mirror too.

If you've made fast weight loss your goal, keep a few simple things in mind to take off the pounds quickly and safely.

Skipping meals is one of the first things people often try when they want to lose weight. It makes sense, right, cut out the calories by eating one fewer meal. Doesn't weight loss come with eating less calories? That's right but skipping meals isn't the right way to reduce calories. When you skip meals your body goes into starvation mode. It starts to retain fat to counteract what it perceives as being starved. When you skip meals you'll end up hungrier at the next meal. The result is binge eating. Skipping meals is the worst of both worlds that results in gaining even more weight. Don't skip meals.

Know how much to eat. It's called portion control and it's as important as eating the right foods. Too much of even a healthy food will still result in weight gain. It's hard to do when large portions are so common. Restaurants and even most people in home cooking serve portions far larger than needed. Sources such as the FDA list recommended daily allowances. And remember portion size when you eat at restaurants, especially fast food restaurants. Don't eat the full portion served at the restaurant, or order less than a full meal, such as soup and a salad.

Replace white foods such as white bread, white rice and sugar with whole grain foods. Whole grains are lower in fat and higher in nutrients. The fiber in whole grains will make you feel fuller faster and longer. Also whole grains contain many nutrients that are often lacking in people's diets.

Drink more water. Replace juice and soda with water since that juice and soda adds 90,000 calories to an average person's diet every year. Drink water between meals too. In fact, the goal is 8 glasses of water each day. It's easily possible. Drinking water will also promote health in general by keeping you well hydrated and cool.

Eat healthy snacks between meals. The body needs food every three to four hours to maintain proper blood sugar. Healthy snacks also help control eating at meal times.

Fast weight loss is realistic with some knowledge and planning. It won't be long before you're slimmer and trimmer.