by Ann E. Smith

Created on: May 09, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Has it happened to you? Upon looking in the mirror one morning, you were surprised at what you saw. Your face somehow seemed puffy. Your arms looked different. Your stomach could not belong to you! But, it did.

If so, you probably decided it was time to lose some weight! The good news is that you can go on a weight-loss journey that does not have to restrict certain food groups.

You do not have to give up anything, actually. You just need to make healthier food choices, control your portions, drink your water and get more exercise.

These are the principles to what is one of the best ways to lose weight. This article will look at each one. Keep in mind that you want to do more than just lose weight. You want to adopt a healthier lifestyle so you will keep it off and be able to enjoy life to its fullest.

* Make healthier food choices

When embarking on your weight-loss journey, you need to recognize that you are going to cut back on calories. You must eat less than you burn, and you need to reach this goal on a daily basis.

You may want to consult with a nutritionist or join a group like Weight Watchers. This will help you determine how many calories you should have each day, based on various factors such as your age, gender, current weight and activity levels.

While you can eat whatever you want, you will find that you can get far more bang for your buck if you make healthier choices. For example, you could have a small cheeseburger and small order of fries at McDonald's. It would set you back only a few hundred calories.

But, for fewer calories, you can have a fresh spinach salad with sliced turkey, a boiled egg, cucumber, and a splash of oil and vinegar. You can add an apple for dessert. Which meal sounds like it would make you fuller longer, and make you feel better?

The answer should be obvious. While it's fine to splurge on occasion, you just want to make healthier choices most of the time. That way, you can have higher volumes of food that are more densely packed with things that are good for you.

* Control your portions.

When dieting, it is important to give yourself some flexibility. You do not want to be a total prisoner to foods you prepare.

So be sure to allow yourself some meals out with friends and family. Just learn to practice portion control, especially for rich items. Instead of having your own brownie with ice cream on top, have one bite of your husband's.

When learning to practice portion control, focus on reading food labels

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