There is no big secret to weight loss. Eating right and exercising play key roles. The net is filled with plans and techniques to lose weight. The issue with these plans is that they do seem to work for the short term. The weight usually sneaks back on in the long term.
The reason I never followed these plans is because I know I cannot make these plans a way of life. There is a reason they are called "fad" diets. If you are trying a technique to lose weight and it is giving you a hard time, maybe that technique is not right for you. If you can maintain a technique with little stress on your daily life, this is something you should probably stick with.
This site describes some techniques that have worked/are working for me.
People say running is boring. Running on a treadmill may be boring. Running outside in pleasant weather is invigorating.
I have tried the treadmill thing. I feel like a rodent in a running wheel. I am always adjusting my pace and my incline. It is hard for me to stay focused on what I am suppose to be doing - RUNNING.
When I am outside in nice weather, my mind is free to wander. I am appreciative of the sights and sounds I experience. The time alone with my thoughts helps me get things in my life in order. And at the same time, I am getting an excellent workout.
My main motivater are my previous times. I chose a route in my neighborhood. I bought a cheap stopwatch from Wal-Mart. Everytime I run my route, I time myself. And every time I run, I try to shed some seconds off of my time. You are your greatest competitor.
If you are not in shape enough to run, take a nice walk to get your fitness level up. Pick up the pace of your walking slowly until it becomes a slow jog. Keep working up from there. Don't forget to time yourself :)
Another way to shed pounds is having a hobby that requires a cardiovascular workout. Another thing that seems to work for me is martial arts.
Ever since Royce Gracie dominated in the initial UFCs, I have been intrigued by the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I am lucky enough to have a great school in my area that teaches BJJ, Muay Thai and Jeet Kun Do. Before every class, there is a session of cardio exercises to warm our bodies up. Many times, the warm up sessions are harder than the classes themselves.
There are a myriad of exercises that we do as part of the warm up. The ones that your muscles seem to remember the next day are:
Of all of the arts taught, I prefer BJJ. You basically get to go all out while practicing and no one gets hurt in the process. Two people are wrestling trying to make the other submit via a technique implemented. This is a workout - but it is also a thinking game. The better your opponent is, the more you have to strategize to get the submission.
This has got to be the most important part to me. I eat whatever I want to eat. I eat whenever I want to eat. I do not count calories. Counting calories takes too much effort on my part. I might be able to do it for the short term but I will not be able to do it forever. Erasing fat means not letting it sneak back on to your body. This is the major flaw of diet plans as far as I am concerned. People limit their calorie intake for so long and then go right back to their normal ways once they reach their goal. I keep my normal ways steady. There are some things I try to avoid though.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is in everything. I try to avoid it at all cost. I was once a Gatorade addict. I went cold turkey when I realized how much HFCS I was intaking. I challenge you to shop without buying a product with HFCS. Try finding some ketchup! The stuff is sweeter than sugar and it is everywhere. People are taking heed - the corn syrup purveyors even started making commercials to let the public know there is nothing to be alarmed about. I am not sure what to think of it all, but I do know cutting it out of your diet can help you keep the pounds off.
The only meat I eat is fish (no shellfish or catfish). I am paranoid about the hormones and antibiotics used on modern farms so I avoid most meat. I am aware of the mercury in fish. I do not eat it every day - but I do eat it. Fish has very little fat and the fat of some fish is beneficial.
I avoid fast food. This is easy for anyone that has ever worked at a fastfood spot like myself. The food is low quality, quickly prepared and filthy a lot of the time. You only have one body - garbage in - garbage out.
The real fundamental to focus on in your diet is it's symbiosis with your exercise. If you eat a big country fried meal for lunch and expect to run a few miles when you get home, you will notice your fitness level is not what it would be if you decided to eat a healthier alternative. Your cardiovascular performance is directly related to your diet. The two fitness hobbies that I mentioned earlier depend high performance if I am going to get better at them. So yeah, I eat what I want when I want knowing that I am trying to improve the time of my mile run. Or maybe I am trying to wrestle with people who are better than me and my only way to avoid being tapped is my explosive energy gained and maintained through a sensible diet.