Counting Calories to Lose Weight

“How Many Calories Do I Need to Lose Weight?”

This is a good question, but it all depends on several factors like how much you weigh, how many pounds you want to lose, your age, height, sex, and the number of times you are willing to work out per week. The easiest way to figure out how many calories you need to lose weight is to use a calorie counter. Using a daily calorie counter will help you to track the number of calories you should consume per day while preventing you from overeating. With that said, if you are having trouble dieting and can’t lose weight, why not try using a calorie counter to help you with your weight loss goals? While counting calories may seem like a chore, it actually is a great way to take the guess work out of the foods you should eat. As long as you stick with it and are consistent, achieving your desired weight through calorie counting should happen in no time!

To help you drop those unwanted pounds, counting calories to lose weight can be as simple as joining a weight loss program like Weight Watchers. Many dieters have been very successful with weight loss programs because they make calorie counting an easy way to lose weight while enjoying the foods you love. No need to go on diet pills, starve yourself, or do strenuous workouts. However, with weight loss programs like Weight Watchers, you have to properly work the program and be accurate (or I should say truthful) with food portions in order to be successful.

If you rather not join a weight loss program, then the fastest way to lose weight is to have a food diary. Studies have proven time and time again that dieters who keep food diaries lose more weight than dieters who don’t. You can start a food diary today by using a simple notebook, downloading a food diary template, or signing up for a food diary online. Online food diaries are just simply great because they have calorie calculators, diet recipes, and even mobile phone applications where you can easily track what you eat when you are on the go. How terrific is that?

Regardless of how you keep track of what you eat, the point is to make sure you don’t go over your daily calories (or go under for that matter) in order to lose weight. Counting calories may not seem like something fun to do, but the fact of the matter is that people who do count calories and track what they eat are more successful at losing weight. If your goal is to drop unwanted pounds and to get thin, counting calories is an easy weight loss tip that shouldn’t be overlooked. Simply use a daily calorie counter to figure how many calories you need to lose weight, be consistent, and get the body you want.

Good Luck!

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Eating Healthy

Eating Healthy to Lose Weight

Bad eating habits are the main reason why so many people are overweight. While lack of inactivity plays its part, it’s the consumption of unhealthy foods high in sugar, calories, and fat that causes weight gain. If you are looking for healthy ways to lose weight and to get thin, start by changing your eating habits by making a point to eat healthier meals. Once you make it a practice to eat healthier meals while incorporating a regular fitness routine, problems with your weight will finally become a thing of the past.

To begin, try eating less processed foods that are bad for you while choosing healthy meals to lose weight like fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, lean meats, fish, whole grains, and legumes. Also, don't forget to count calories! Although I do like some of the diet recipes you can find in health and fitness magazines or online, I prefer to create my own healthy meal plans with foods I like to eat. You can too. However, if you are not sure of what good foods to eat to lose weight or you find some diet recipes too complicated, here are a few healthy meal ideas that are simple and easy to make (choose one from each category).

Breakfast

-1 cup of healthy cereal with 2%, 1%, skim, or fat free milk (Healthy cereals to choose from include Cheerios, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Kellogg’s Special K, Fiber One, raisin bran, etc. Try to avoid sugary cereals as much as possible).

-1 or 2 scrambled eggs using ½ teaspoon of fat free butter or cooking spray, a slice of toast with jelly, and 1 cup of orange juice

-1 cup of slow-cooked oatmeal and 1 cup of orange juice (Add raisins, dried cranberries, or a ½ teaspoon of brown sugar for taste).

-1 small frozen bagel toasted with 1 teaspoon of fat free butter, low fat cream cheese, peanut butter, or jelly (To avoid racking up extra calories, don’t pile on the butter or cream cheese).

-Homemade Parfait

-Fresh fruit salad

Lunch

-½ can of tuna with ½ teaspoon of mayo and 6-8 unsalted crackers

- ½ turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, and a slice of real cheddar cheese (Use a spread of your choice like ½ teaspoon of mayo, mustard, avocado, or hummus).

-Chicken soup with a garden salad (Always have salad dressing on the side instead of pouring it all over your salad. Salad dressing is loaded with extra calories and extras calories causes unwanted weight gain. For a healthier food choice to lose weight, use extra virgin olive oil or use extra virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar).

-Medium salad with chicken, flank steak, shrimp, or tuna

-A slice of plain cheese pizza with a small side salad

-A small to medium sized toasted bagel with 1 teaspoon of mayo, 2 slices of real cheese, lettuce, and tomato

Dinner

-Baked fresh salmon with ½ cup of brown rice and steamed broccoli

-Chicken pasta salad using baked or grilled chicken breast, ½ cup of cooked pasta like penne, bow ties, or rotini, and extra virgin olive oil. (Use salad ingredients of your choice like tomatoes, almonds, cucumber, green pepper, red onion, steamed peas, avocado, carrots, etc. Also, season your chicken pasta salad with fresh pepper, basil, parsley, and oregano for taste).

-1 cup of whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce and a side salad (You can use fresh vegetables in your tomato sauce like green and red pepper, onion, zucchini, celery, etc., or meats like sausage, ground beef, chicken, or turkey. If you like bread with your pasta, eat only one slice and use olive oil as a dip) TIP: Since people tend to eat large portions of pasta than needed, make your salad the bulk of your meal as part of eating healthy to lose weight.

-Grilled chicken with roasted potatoes and steamed green beans

Snacks

-1 cup of low fat yogurt with granola

-A medium banana, apple, or orange

-Trail mix

-Low fat granola bar

-Celery, baby carrots, or green pepper with hummus

-2 slices of real cheese with 4-6 crackers

-Fruit salad

-A handful of unsalted pretzels

-1 or 2 hard-boiled egg

-½ cup of healthy cereal without the milk

Again, these are just a few healthy meal ideas to help you with your weight loss goals. To prevent hunger, I suggest eating 5-6 smaller meals everyday. Search for diet recipe ideas in your favorite health or fitness magazines, online, or create your own diet plan by using foods that are low in sugar, calories, and fat. Remember, to lose weight you will need to make it a habit to select healthier food choices and workout regularly. Once you change the way you eat as a part of a healthier lifestyle, you will achieve the body you always dreamed of in no time!

Good Luck!

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Weight Loss Workout Plan

What’s Your Workout Plan to Lose Weight?

One of the keys to losing weight and successfully keeping the weight off is to incorporate a workout plan into your weight loss program. Simply dieting or eating healthier meals may not be enough to help you get the body you want within your desired timeframe. Therefore, if your goal is to get thin, adopt one of the consistent habits of thin people and exercise on a regular basis to get in shape. Here are some weight loss exercise programs to help you with your weight loss goals.

Personal Trainer
Not sure what type of fitness training program will work for you to lose weight? A Personal Trainer is a great option to help you design a weight loss workout program and to help you keep on track with your fitness goals. If you are a member at a local gym, inquire about rates for a Personal Training Package or see if you are allowed to bring in your own Personal Trainer. If you are not a member at your local gym, don’t worry. You can still utilize the expertise of a Personal Trainer where you can do workouts at the beach, at the park, or in the comfort of your own home.  Search for Personal Trainers through online classified ads like Craigslist or look through your local community newspaper. I’ve seen rates as low as $19 per session for new members, so be sure to shop around to get the best deal you can afford.

Gym Membership
Of course the most popular fitness training program to lose weight is to join a local gym. Gyms are great because they offer everything from swimming pools to free handheld weights for an overall body workout. Create a workout plan one month and then switch it up the following month to ensure that your body doesn’t hit a fitness plateau and prevent boredom with the same old fitness routine. If you do ever get bored with a workout plan, take up an exercise class offered at your gym or workout with a friend outdoors. Still need some help with your fitness training program? You can always hire a Personal Trainer to rev up your workouts!

Fitness DVDs
Maybe you are not in the market for a Personal Trainer right now or maybe you hate the crowds at gyms. If this is you, then try creating a home workout program to lose weight! The great thing about exercising at home is that you can work out anytime you want, you don’t have to wait for workout machines, and there’s privacy where you can feel comfortable exercising. If this is you, you can easily and affordably create a home gym by purchasing a few fitness DVDs, some free weights, and a yoga mat. That’s it! While there are some great fitness DVDs out there, the secret to losing weight and getting thin on a home workout program is to be consistent, alternate your fitness routines with different DVDs, strength train with free weights, and count calories.  Some DVDs I work out with at home are The Firm series, Winsor Pilates, Slim in 6, and Brazilian Butt to name a few.

Online Fitness Videos
For free workout programs at home, try online workout videos. There are many fitness video websites online that offer workout training plans for free or with a membership for a small monthly fee. If you are someone who has become bored with the gym or with your fitness DVDs, online fitness videos is the perfect solution to try a library of new workout plans. Some keywords to search for fitness videos on the web are online exercise videos, online workout videos, online health videos, and free online workout videos.

Good Luck!

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