The American diet is out of control. More than 66 percent of Americans are overweight and 32 percent are considered obese. Although the diet industry rakes in more than $40 billion each year, these percentages are on the rise. Even while dieting, many Americans are gaining weight rather than losing it. One reason is that fad diets don't work and neither do starvation diets. People who deprive themselves end up back at square one all too quickly.

When most overweight and obese people make the decision to change, they look for something that will promote quick weight loss. People want to lose weight fast and see results almost immediately. They think if they eat less, quit making their way to the drive-thru, and exercise more, they should be able to see results that first week. When that doesn't work, they either fall back on their old habits or search for the miracle weight loss cure. Unfortunately, one doesn't exist.

The Secret to Fat Loss

Dieters follow one program after another looking for the secret to fat loss. With all of the programs, products and books on the market there must be something to help people lose weight, right? The truth is there is no single product on the market that can help you lose weight fast and keep it off. You may find success on a pill for a while, but it is not a lifetime program. You will gain the weight back if you don't make definitive lifestyle changes.

The secret to fat loss is using a combination of techniques to build muscle and burn fat. Only by changing your body composition can you truly lose weight and keep it off. Stop looking at diets as a temporary fix and learn new behaviors that will support weight loss and maintenance.

Increase Metabolism to Lose Weight Fast

Your metabolism is what breaks down the food you eat and converts it to energy. There are some things you can do on a daily basis to increase your metabolism and burn more fat, even when you are doing nothing. This after-burn effect is helpful because when you are dieting every calorie you eat and every calorie you burn is important. Just 250 calories a day can make or break your weight loss success. Therefore, it makes sense to maximize the rate at which your body burns fat.

Here are a few things to do that boost metabolism and burn fat faster:

* Do some resistance training several days per week with a rest day in between

* Do a minimum of three cardio sessions per week

* Make healthier food choices

* Reduce the amount of sugary and prepared foods you eat

* Drink lots of water

* Eat smaller, more frequent meals

* Don't fall for starvation diets and don't skip meals

* Get plenty of sleep

* Mix up your food and exercise routine every six weeks to keep your body from reaching a plateau

Though your age and sex do affect your metabolic rate, if you are not burning enough calories it is more likely due to too many calories and too little exercise. The bottom line is you must make a commitment to yourself. You must make healthier choices on a daily basis for the rest of your life in order to lose weight and keep it off. There isn't a miracle secret to fat loss. If you eat smart, move more and burn more calories than you take in, the weight will come off.