Ten Realistic Ways to Lose Weight Safely

Dieting shouldn't just be something that you do for a short-time to lose weight, it needs to be a daily part of your life. Follow these secrets and kiss yo-yo dieting good-bye.

10. BE REASONABLE AND CONSISTENT. Set realistic goals for yourself. Don't expect to go from assize ten to a size six in a couple of weeks. Drastic weight loss is unhealthy, you're more likely to gain the weight back, and you'll probably end up losing muscle rather than fat. Try to be consistent and lose a couple of pounds a month.

9. KEEP A RECORD OF WHAT YOU EAT. You'd be surprised at how little things add up. A coffee here, a candy there and before you know it all your snacks could add up to another meal.

8. REMEMBER THAT WEIGHT ISN'T THE SAME AS FAT. With all the talk about losing weight, women forget that muscle weighs more than fat. Just because you're losing weight doesn't mean that you're healthy. Rather than using pounds to gauge your success, think about measurements or BMI (Body Mass Index) which tells you how much fat you have on your body.

7. LEARN TO COOK. Typical restaurant dishes contain enough food for two people, not to mention the starters, side-dishes, drinks, and desserts. Fast-food restaurants aren't any better, a hamburger has all the fat that you should eat in a day. Eating at home allows you to see what's put in your food and cook it the way you want.

6. EAT HEALTHY SNACKS. Three square meals is a thing of the past, now most diet experts will tell you it's better to snack throughout the day and eat less at meals. The key is to finding healthy snacks. Ditch the cookies and chips and trade them in for fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. They're healthy, light, and help with digestion. In addition, they're easy to prepare and eat on the go. Just toss a couple of fruits or veggie sticks in your purse and you're on your way!

5. EAT BREAKFAST. It's still the most important meal of the day. If you think you'll cut out calories by cutting out breakfast don't be deceived. If you don't eat breakfast, you'll just end up eating more throughout the day to compensate.

4. EXERCISE. Dieting isn't just about food. In order to be healthy you'll need to add exercise to your daily routine. You don't need to hit the gym to get a workout. Cleaning the house, going for a walk, even making love are great ways to lose weight and de-stress.

3. DON'T DRINK YOUR CALORIES. Cocktails, soft drinks, exercise drinks, and coffee can contain heaps of calories, not to mention sugar. Rather than ordering a tall latte or reaching for a Coke, opt for a bottle of water instead. Water contains zero calories and is essential for your body. Just remember to drink regular water and not the flavoured kind.

2. EAT A BALANCED DIET. Think cheese puts on the pounds? Look at the French, they're svelte. What about ice cream? Italians are lean as well. Their secret? Eat what you want, just don't gorge yourself. If you're too restrictive with your diet, eventually you'll cave and end up eating much more than you would have in the first place.

1. EMBRACE YOUR FIGURE. Stick-thin size zero models make up a very small percentage of the population and most women's won't achieve that figure. Nor should they, the majority of men love a woman's curves so rather than trying to get rid of them start showing them off.

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