Claims and promises mean nothing, though, if the diet to lose weight doesn't do the job. There is a lot of talk about metabolism and how we each process foods differently.
The bottom line is finding a diet to lose weight that will help you not only slim down, but also keep the weight off. The answer comes down to consuming fewer calories than you burn.
This may seem too simple, but the secret to a diet to lose weight is basic science. When your body burns all the calories that you have eaten it starts burning fat.
A diet to lose weight that is based on this rule will allow a person to lose weight and keep it off. It is that simple. Setting up the diet comes down to a few mathematical figures.
Each one of us burns calories at our own pace. The number of calories each person burns is dependent upon their activity level and their basal metabolic rate or BMR. Using your BMR you can create a diet to lose weight based on sound science.
The BMR is the number of calories naturally burned by just being alive. A person's BMR is based on the following factor: genetics, gender, age, weight, diet, physical activity and body fat. A recommended site for more weight loss information is: http://4-best-weight-loss.com
To figure your BMR you can use online calculators or try a rough estimate. There is also a formula called the Harris-Benedict formula. The following explains how to figure your BMR based on this formula:
Men: Multiply weight in pounds by 6.23 Multiply height in inches by 12.7 Multiply age by 6.8
Now add the figures for weight and height together and then subtract the figure for age from that total.
Women: Multiply weight in pounds by 4.35 Multiply height in inches by 4.7 Multiply age by 4.7
Now add the figures for weight and height together and then subtract the figure for age from that total.
The next step is to use the BMR you got from this formula to figure how many calories a day you need to maintain your weight. To do this follow the following chart:
Activity Level: Multiply BMR by:
Little or no exercise - 1.2 Light exercise 1 to 3 days a week - 1.375 Moderate exercise 3 to 5 days a week - 1.55 Active exercise 6 to 7 days a week - 1.725 Extreme exercise every day of the week - 1.9
This gives you how many calories you need to stay at your current weight. You need to design a diet to lose weight that has less than this number of calories.
A pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories, so in order to lose a pound your diet needs to be reduced by 3500 calories. It is advised not to try to lose more than a pound a week. Exercise can also be substituted in to help burn calories.
A healthy diet to lose weight will reduce daily calorie intake and include plenty of healthy foods. It is possible for a person to continue eating the foods they love.
The key for a diet to lose weight to succeed is not depriving yourself of favorite foods. Instead, just adjust your calorie intake to allow for weight loss and watch the pounds come off.
You look at yourself in the mirror, there's no doubt about it, you need to lose weight. It's time for a change in mental attitude. You can fiddle about with your diet but ultimately it will be your mental attitude that carries you through. Lose weight for yourself. Others may encourage you but ultimately it's down to you. Formulate your own 'brain plan' and write it all down. Map out the next few months, mark out target weights, days off from your diet, and rewards for progress. Try to find a goal for your weight loss programme, such as a summer holiday, wedding or similar event to aim for, with a treat such as a new outfit to look forward to.
We all know what we have to do, cut down the calories and exercise more but a few tips won't hurt. Read labels carefully. Don't forget that reduced fat isn't always low fat. A reduced-fat product may only have 25 per cent less fat than a full-fat one, but a truly low-fat food will contain less than three per cent fat. Always compare a 'lose weight' product with a similar non-diet one. In some cases the calorie saving isn't actually that great because there's more of another ingredient, for example sugar, to compensate for reduced fat. Don't let diet foods replace those that are naturally healthy and low in fat, such as fruits, vegetables, high-fibre bread and cereals, lean, unprocessed meats and fish and skimmed milk.
You want sustained weight loss. Don't be tempted by crash or fad diets, you'll never be able to maintain the momentum. Weigh yourself each week. Do not be worried about small daily changes in your weight. You should not lose more than 1 to 2 pounds a week. There may be weeks when you do not lose weight. This is normal. But, stay on your diet and you will again start to lose weight. When eating out, consider the calories in each food. Avoid deep fried and battered foods including chips, rich creamy sauces and fat-laden pastry dishes. Instead go for high carbohydrate options such as rice and pasta dishes that fill you up faster. Remember you don't have to eat all three courses - give the starter or dessert a miss. Alternatively stick to two starters. Beware the little extras that can have a big effect on your waistline. Say no to butter on bread or vegetables, cream on puddings and in coffee. And give the after-dinner chocolates a miss. On set menus avoid the cheese board and go for fruit instead. Choose grilled, poached, steamed, braised or baked dishes rather than fried. Pile your plate with vegetables and salad. When you want to lose weight, watch what you drink. Fruit juice sounds healthy but it's full of calories. Try to cut down on alcohol. Most drinks are high in calories. Instead, drink 6 or 7 glasses of water each day. What you should be aiming for is a subtle change to your lifestyle that banishes the fatty foods and replaces them by equally appetizing healthy foods - take your time over dieting, with a bit more exercise and a few less calories, you'll see the weight beginning to come off, and more importantly, stay off.
Both Denise Sears & John Richards are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Denise Sears has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care, Hair Removal and Health. Denise Sears is a beauty and skin care writer who helps people learn about tips they can use. She is a contributing author at 4BeautyTips.com For more of her work go to: