by Debra Steele

Created on: July 23, 2009

For some people being over weight has been a life long battle, while others have gained weight over the years due to over indulgence of their favorite foods, or eating to much of the wrong foods. The first thing a person needs to realize before attempting to lose weight is that there are no short cuts that will give you long term results. Yes, you can starve yourself, drink your meals, over exercise, pop pills, and stop eating one or more of the food groups. You may see your numbers decrease suddenly and temorparily, but as soon as you begin to eat, stop exercising, or stop taking pills, you will gain the weight you loss, plus more.

There are hundreds of fad diets, weight control systems, and pills on the market today that are successful at helping you lose weight fast but they do not teach you how to maintain your weight loss without gaining it back. Long term weight loss means losing weight that will last a life time. The only way you will be able to loss weight and keep it off long term is by making some permanent life style changes.

Here are some basic tips on how to achieve a healthy weight for your body type and maintain it for a life time.

1. Do not focus on a number, focus on being healthy

One of the biggest mistakes people make, when trying to lose weight, is focusing on a specific size or weight. Focus on being healthy through healthy food choices. You will lose more weight and keep the weight off by focusing on what you are eating, and how much you are eating. Replace cookies, cakes, donuts, chips, sodas and all fast foods with fresh vegetables, fruits, leans meats, and whole grains. Throw away the scale. Concentrate on what you are putting into your body, and your body will automatically begin to transform into the correct size for you. Your goal is to be healthy not skinny.

2. Drink more water

Replace your sugary, carbonated, empty calorie drinks with water. Water contains no calories, hydrates you, and helps flush toxins out of your body. An eight ounce glass of water before every meal can help make you feel full faster causing you to eat less.

3. Do not skip breakfast

Breakfast can be a simple as a fruit, plain coffee, and a bowl of whole grain cereal or a breakfast smooth you blended youself with low fat yogurt, and fruit. Skipping breakfast or any meal sets you up for overeating and guilt, followed by the urge to give up.

4. Exercise

Those that have been successful at losing

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