Everyone knows that excess weight is detrimental to your health, but it can be difficult to settle on the right plan. There are so many harmful fad diets that can lead you astray or even harm you. Here are some tips to help you decide on a weight loss plan that is safe and effective.

Share Your Experience

One good way to lose excess weight loss to join an organization such as Jenny Craig or Weightwatchers, or a local support group. They have supportive staff members and a number of resources available to you. These types of groups come at many different levels of affordability, so you don’t need to overextend your financial resources. The main idea is to share your experience with people with similar goals, and to help each other stay on the right track.

Watch Your Water

If you cut down on the amount of food you eat and drink less than half a gallon of water a every day, you’ll start to lose a lot of water weight. This is not permanent fat loss. It can be a great motivator to get started dropping those extra pounds for good, but don’t get carried away with it. You need water – plenty of it – to stay healthy and flush out the toxins in your system.

Replace Bad Habits

Focusing on making positive changes is the best way to stick to a diet. Instead of constantly trying to avoid going to the doughnut shop every morning, consider going somewhere else that offers fresh fruit instead. It is easier to start new habits than it is to try to break old habits.

Multivitamins

A great tip that could help you during your weight loss regimen is to use a multivitamin. When you diet, we cut out many foods that have essential vitamins. Taking a multivitamin ensures you get all the essential vitamins you need.

Eating Out

You can still eat out at restaurants when you are on a weight loss program. Don’t be shy about replacing elements of your meal. Have a salad instead of fries. Have water with a slice of lemon instead of a lemonade. Order baked dishes instead of fried dishes. Eat only half of your order and take the other half home to enjoy as another meal altogether.

Avoid Extremes

Some fad diets recommend that you to eliminate carbohydrates completely. This is not a good nutritional point of view. Everyone needs carbohydrates in order for their bodies to function according to plan. The same goes for diets that cut out any element completely. Fat-free diets deprive your body of essential fats. Sugar-free diets are equally harmful. The old adage “Everything in moderation” is very sound advice.

Take Notes

Try to keep track of the foods that decrease your weight. This can help you find what triggers your overeating and help you to see where you need to make changes.

Caffeine

It seems that every six months a report comes out that says coffee is good for – or that it’s bad for you. In fact, it’s both. Again, everything in moderation. If you think you’re overdoing the coffee, replace your consumption – in part or entirely – with decaffeinated coffee or caffeine-fee tea. Generally, these drinks contain the same healthy antioxidants as their fully caffeinated alternatives.

As for the caloric level of caffeine drinks, you can easily eliminate practically all the calories by not adding cream and/or sugar.

Butter

You don’t have to eliminate or replace butter if you really don’t want to. After all, nothing beats the flavor and texture of this wonderful ingredient. Instead, use less butter, or use whipped butter, or butter with reduced salt. Any reduction in your butter intake will be helpful toward losing weight.

Clothing

This isn’t so much a cautionary tip for better dieting, but a suggestion toward motivation: Don’t hide behind loose clothing when trying to lose weight. Many people like to wear oversized clothes to feel more comfortable, but it also allows them to forget about their healthy weight. Wearing clothes that actually fit you will help keep you more aware of your body and your goals.

Weight loss, as you now know, is a very important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. When you have a good knowledge base related to weight loss, you can better select the right techniques for you. Applying the tips in this article to your life is a great place to start.

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.