Perhaps you have been reading my little blog and maybe you have just found The Weight Loss Zone. I want to start this by centering on what you might need from a simple weight loss blog like this one. So, I hope you will spend some time, just for you, and let what you read soak in a little. I want to take a moment to ask you a question.

Have you have been trying to lose weight for sometime, but you feel like you are getting no where? You are becoming frustrated and you feel that you are out of options and nowhere else to turn. Well there are ten tips that you may not have tried that you probably will need to be aware of. These ten tips will actually help you succeed in your weight loss program.

1. Water And the Weight Loss Zone

* You need to begin your weight loss program by drinking plenty of water. When you are dieting this usually consists of eight to ten glasses a day. This water will help you keep hydrated, detoxified, and will help you keep those nasty hunger pangs at bay. I have an earlier post that you might find interesting.

2. 3 Large and 2 Small

* Consider that you should have at least five if not six meals a day. What!? Let me explain, this should consist of three large meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and at least two small calorie snacks usually mid morning and early evening. This will be great for your metabolism. Also by no means are you to skip meals. If you skip meals then you will cause your metabolism to become off balance. Remember tip # 7 ( you can read it later)

3. Workouts

* Regular exercise is essential when you are trying to lose weight. It will help in increasing your metabolism and also increase your overall fitness levels. Try things such as a brisk walk, maybe jogging, and bike riding among other activities, as these are all good for your heart. You can also try weight training as it will help you build up your muscle and also build up your endurance. The Weight Loss Zone is big on swimming, You may like to consider reading the Blog post one more time.

4. Mental

* Mental workouts are also important to your weight loss program. Things like Yoga and Meditation will help lower your stress, allow you to experience mental relaxation and improves your concentration. Both the mental and physical exercise if combined correctly will help with your personality and overall physical health. I have some plans to post on yoga later, But the important thing is to feed the brain, your thinking will make the difference.

5. Eat

* It will be much healthier for you, as a whole, to eat rather than drink. A lot of people believe in an all liquid diet but you need to realize these are not good. All you are basically taking in is pure sugar. Your teeth were designed to chew, don’t think you can become a hummingbird.

6. Food Labels

* You need to pay close attention to all food labels, especially when you are trying to lose weight. In doing so you need to compare calorie intake and overall healthiness of the food. This behavior starts at the store and continues at home. Read them and see the fiber and the fats, Your heart will thank you.

7. Portion Size

* You need to pay attention to your portion sizes. It is one of the most useful steps to proper weight loss. The Large meals discussed earlier are still controlled portions, not a buffet in Vegas.

8. Low Fat Low Sugar

* You need to be sure to choose foods that are low both in fat and sugar. There is sugar delivered to the body in everything you eat. So read the labels and read the Carbohydrate  count. Do you know that there are good fats, too. Reduce the bad fats, your body will do well, your taste buds are not the boss.

9. Sleep

* A good night sleep is also essential to proper weight loss. You also need to make sure you are going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. There is a lot to say for balance, not only in life with hobbies and relaxation, but for your diet as well.

10. Daily Diary/Journal

* You need to have a daily diary/journal on all the food that you take in and carry it with you at all times. This will help you keep track of the calories, fats, carbs, or any other items that you have already consumed for the day which allows you to plan your next meal more effectively.

As you can see there is still hope for your weight loss plan. You just need to follow these 10 steps and you will be losing weight in no time. How do I know? Been there, done that, done the research, got the tee shirt.

The Weight Loss Zone is in your corner, we have an email system planned to notify you when we post and have several other things in the oven to cook up for our little blog. Thanks to all of you who have commented. I hope that I am as encouraging to your weight loss as you are to my blobbing.

There must be an honest attempt to answer some very important questions, like… Have you lost weight in the past only to regain it a short time later? Have you followed every diet including Atkins, South Beach, the Drinking Man’s diet, the Peanut Butter diet, or even the Chocolate Diet? All of these diets do work, and none of them work either, meaning you can and probably do lose weight on any of them, but you won’t keep it off. Why not? Because the day will come when the diet is over and you’re right back to your regular routine; the same routine that got you fat in the first place. Stop reading now if you are not in the weight loss zone.

Lets look at history, shall we? In the past, diets carried a warning not to stay on them longer than the prescribed period; usually two weeks, some a mere three days. Today’s popular diets are attempting to style themselves as lifestyle choices, but this isn’t working either. People want to be able to eat a sandwich now and then. They want the burger and the bun! Strive for balance, choosing foods you prefer, and you’ll have a better chance at lasting weight loss success.  That‘s the goal, isn’t it?

<b>Small Changes: Big Answer to Weight Loss Blues</b>

Start today, and work one day at a time making one or two small changes such as switching to the calorie-free soft drinks, and more water as well, then weaning yourself down to two or less a day (if you drink more than that now of course). Changes don’t have to be drastic. In fact trying to make drastic changes in your lifestyle never works because while you may be happy in the beginning, you slowly grow miserable toward the end. In fact, that’s the problem right there: you anticipate an end. What we are discussing is behavior modification.

<b>Weight Loss Comes Down to Choices</b>

I talk to people a lot who’ve lost weight and kept it off. They’ll say, “This is a lifestyle.” It’s about choices you make every day. Are you choosing to take an extra helping, even though you’re comfortably full? Change that one behavior and you’re on your way. Do you choose to take the bag of chips to the couch? Change that, in fact just stop eating on the couch entirely and you’re one step closer. Eliminate the habit of grabbing a few bites on your way past the candy dish, that alone can shave several pounds. I once lost eight pounds simply by eliminating the candy dish I kept at my desk (not to mention the money I saved not buying a couple pounds of candy a week).

Choose one small habit or behavior at a time, not your entire existence, and you’ll have a much better chance to reach your weight loss goals.