by Rella Ingram

Created on: May 04, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Taking off a few pounds sounds easy. It does until you decide to go on that diet or make a lifestyle change to make it happen. There are many things you can do to take the stress off and make the change in you a more permanent one rather than another failed diet.

Here are some tips to keep in mind while eating whether it be eating in your own kitchen, at lunch with the office crowd, or out to dinner with the family...

1. Drink non-carbonated drinks. Why? Carbonated drinks whether they be "diet" or not, are a source of high sodium and cause you to retain water. The best is water, but the next best would be something unsweetened so you have the control over how much sugar you intake.

2. Opt for vegetables and fruits. If you have a choice, raw is best. Stir fry is better than cooked to a pulp, but vegetables need to be a staple in your new lifestyle. The more something is cooked, the less original food value it retains.

3. Minimize starch intake. Potatoes, pasta, rice, and breads are the big four that are pushed. If these items can be eaten in very small moderation the weight will begin to melt off.

4. Limit salt intake. Once again, salt makes you retain water. It also raises your blood pressure. Do not eliminate salt all together because you do need the iodine that is added to most salts for the health of your thyroid. Just cut your current salt usage in half and you should be ok.

5. Drink enough water. How much is enough? Half of your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 200 pounds, you would want to drink 100 ounces of water per day. As your weight goes down, so will the required amount of water. You will be able to think more clearly and your body will begin to feel better.

6. Get enough sleep. How much? Between 7-8 hours is required. The best time to get the majority of this sleep is before midnight. Our bodies tend to think the sleep we get before midnight allows us to get into a deeper sleep before it is time to wake up.

7. Exercise, exercise, excercise. This must be scheduled. This time is important and must be viewed as if it were an important business meeting that cannot be missed or rescheduled. Once you begin to reschedule your workout, you will start putting them off all together.

8. Take a Tylenol or Advil... do this for the first week or so into your diet before you exercise. Chances are if you have been sedintary and are jumping into an exercise routine on a regular basis, you will be hurting until you get somewhat back into shape. By taking some sort of

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