Healthy Weight Loss

With so many diets available, it's hard to know which one is right for you. Some may fit your lifestyle better, while others might appeal to your personal eating habits. If you're not picky about food, diets that restrict you to certain foods may work. If you know you'll never be able to get over your love for ice cream, choose a diet that focuses on portion control rather than restricting you to certain foods. Stick to the main tenets of any diet -- one that favors healthy food choices and moderation. Structure your own meal strategy using these tips.

Instructions

1 Determine the amount of calories you should consume daily in order to lose weight. If you have an active lifestyle, you'll need more. If you spend most of your day sitting at a desk, you'll need less. According to the Mayo Clinic, you need to burn 3,500 more calories than you take in per week to lose 1 lb. Don't shave off too many calories. According to the National Institute of Health, women shouldn't take in less than 1,200 calories per day and men no less than 1,500.
2 Set an alarm clock to go off every three to four hours. This is how frequently you should be eating to keep your metabolism burning fat and to stave off cravings and binge attacks. Set up an eating schedule and follow it every day. Though you'll be eating more frequently, you'll actually be eating less by trimming down your portion sizes.
3 Make a weekly grocery list and set aside at least one day a week for cooking. Keep low-calorie snacks available, such as fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt and butter-free popcorn. Cook a lot, even if you're only cooking for yourself. Leftovers can be a life-saver when you're running late for work and forgot to pack your lunch the night before.
4 Focus on protein and fruits and vegetables. Pack your breakfast full of protein, including black beans or eggs, and citrus fruits like grapefruit and oranges that will rev up your metabolism. It's easy to grab for bread and chips when you're hungry, but try to substitute. Instead of regular french fries, bake your own sweet potato fries. Switch out pasta for brown rice.
5 Keep a food journal and list everything you eat. If you break down and have an ice cream sundae, it's not the end of the world. Make up for it with exercise and keep going. The worst thing you can do is use it as an excuse to eat everything else and start your diet again some other time. Think of a diet as a lifelong commitment, not a crash period of starvation.

---

• 

  EzineArticles - Weight Loss Plans For Teens - You Can Plan in Fun Food

  ezinearticles.com/?Weight-Loss-Plans-For-Teens---You-Can-Plan-in...
  8/13/2008 The most successful weight loss plans for teens are the ones that they will stick with. No matter how good the plan is, if they wont follow it, it wont work.
• 

  Fat Loss Meal Plan - Weight Loss and Training

  weightlossandtraining.com/fat-loss-meal-plan
  Fat Loss Meal Plan. Knowing what foods to eat when is one of your greatest weapons against fat loss, and if you dont follow a smart plan you are setting ...
• 

  Free Weight Loss Meal Plans - Ask Community

  www.ask.com/answers/107690001/free-weight-loss-meal-plans
  Sparkpeople.com is a great website to use when looking for a weight loss meal plan, they also offer exercise plan and a food tracker so you can keep track of your ...
• 

  How to Structure a Killer Weight Loss Meal Plan eHow

  www.ehow.com/how_5738899_structure-weight-loss-meal-plan.html
  How to Structure a Killer Weight Loss Meal Plan. With so many diets available, it's hard to know which one is right for you. Some may fit your lifestyle better, while ...
• 

  How to Structure the Best Diabetic Diet Plan For You!

  www.quick-weight-loss-principles.com/diabetic-meal-plan.html
  How to Structure the Best Diabetic Diet Plan For You! ... A good diabetic diet plan should recommend small meals ... One of the weight-loss recommendations featured ...
• 

  1,200 Calorie Weight Loss Meal Plan LIVESTRONG.COM

  www.livestrong.com/article/259205-1-200-calorie-weight-loss-meal-plan
  8/16/2013 1,200 Calorie Weight Loss Meal Plan. Low-calorie diets promote weight loss and, if planned properly, supply adequate nutrition.
• 

  Weekly Meal Plan To Lose Weight LIVESTRONG.COM

  www.livestrong.com/article/218823-weekly-meal-plan-to-lose-weight
  8/16/2013 Weekly Meal Plan to Lose Weight. When you are trying to lose weight, you must monitor your calorie intake and keep it below your burn rate. Creating a ...
• 

  EzineArticles - Meal Plans For Weight Loss - Do You Have What it ...

  ezinearticles.com/?Meal-Plans-For-Weight-Loss---Do-You-Have-What...
  6/30/2008 Meal plans for weight loss should allow you to lose weight and keep it off for good. ... Good meal plans for weight loss have both structure and flexibility.
• 

  How to Make a Weight Loss Plan eHow

  www.ehow.com/how_5118305_make-weight-loss-plan.html
  When you plan a weight loss program, ... Here you will learn how to structure a killer weight loss meal plan and start your weight loss journey.
• 

  How to Plan a Meal - About.com Busy Cooks

  busycooks.about.com/od/cookinglessons/a/mealplanning.htm
  Learn how to plan a meal using pantry staples, what's in your freezer, and what is in season and on sale at the grocery store.