The problem with a quick, easy solution to losing weight is that it usually leads to quick, easy weight gain shortly thereafter. There are hundreds of weight loss tips out there, and you may be tired of hearing the same advice repeated over and over. The truth is, there are no new weight loss tips.

The same honest truth of yesterday is the truth today. Losing weight requires that you change your eating habits, exercise more, and live a generally healthy lifestyle. A particular weight loss program can help you lose the initial pounds you need to shed and give you advice on how to keep them off, but the rest is up to you. Going straight back to your old habits is not going to help you stay in shape, or stay healthy.

Lose Weight for the Right Reasons

Before you even look at a diet plan or exercise schedule, look at why you want to lose weight. If you want to improve your health, look and feel better - great! If you want to be able to play with your kids more, that's super. Trying to get your ex back, look better than the next-door neighbor, or because your partner says you should - not so good. The best motivation to lose weight is to do it for yourself - nobody else. Health reasons should be foremost because being overweight can cause health issues that will be with you for the rest of your life.

Choose a Weight Loss Program Carefully

You must be realistic when you choose how you are going to go about losing weight. Your lifestyle may not suit every type of program or diet, and choosing one that you cannot adjust to or cope with is setting yourself up for failure. Look at your current eating habits, level of physical activity, work schedule, and family and social life.

Get Support

Whether it's friends, family, or an online group, make sure you have people to support and encourage you - especially on those bad days. There are thousands of people in online groups who share their experiences with different diets and weight loss programs, have been through the same difficulties you may be facing, and many have succeeded. Read their stories, chat with them, and learn from their mistakes.

Exercise

Whether you like it or not, some form of physical activity must be included in a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it help you lose weight, but it will help you maintain weight loss. Of course, the health benefits are a big factor - even if you're thin, exercise is good for you. You will find that the usual recommendation is between 30 and 45 minutes of exercise three times a week. Recent research indicates that those thirty minutes can be broken up into three 10 minutes sessions, with the same results.

Eating

Whether you are following a specific diet plan, counting calories, or just cutting down on the 'bad' food, there are a couple of things that can help you. Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes from the time you start eating, for your brain to register feelings of fullness. If you gulp your food down in less time, you won't know you're too full until it's too late. Stop eating when you feel satisfied - not full.

Watch those Portions

especially when you are eating out. Eat half the meal and take the rest home in a take-out box. At home, use smaller plates - a great way to make sure you don't serve too much, but your plate will still look nice and full.nm Go easy on the salt, limit high-fat foods, replace red meat with lean poultry and fish, and drink lots of water. Don't skip meals, especially breakfast, as that's the meal that wakes up your metabolism and gets it going for the rest of the day.