Dieters are always looking for the secret to weight loss. Always jumping from one fad diet to the next when they already know the solution. The solution comes down to eating less calories and exercising to burn more calories. You don’t have to cut out your favorite ice cream or cheese burgers (but if you do you can lose weight quicker). You can still eat your favorite foods; you just need to eat less of them.
For example, say you want to lose 1 pound per week (which would be 52 lbs in a year which is a pretty large amount to lose). Since there are 3,500 calories in a pound you need to eat 3,500 calories less each week. That means you only have to eat 500 calories (3,500 / 7 = 500) less each day or about 167 calories less per meal. Another option instead of eating smaller portions is to eat healthier foods that are lower in calories.
To lose even more pounds you can add an exercise routine to your diet. There are lots of different ways to exercise but one of the most efficient ways is running. On average (the actual number depends on your weight and the pace that you run) one can burn about 100 calories per mile run. So for example, if you run 3 miles 5 times each week you can burn another 1,500 calories which is almost a half a pound.
One of the hardest aspects of maintaining a running program is staying motivated. To keep yourself motivated it is important that you do running in a way that is fun and convenient. Many overweight individuals have a hard time getting out in the public for fear of what people think. Purchasing your own electric treadmill is a great way to avoid embarrassment and can be great fun at the same time since you can watch your favorite shows while you workout. Treadmills can be expensive so a good alternative for those that don’t mind getting outside, a Garmin GPS watch can be a great motivator as it will track your calories burnt and miles traveled and let you get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.