You may be like millions of others, you have carried around extra pounds for years and you want to shed them. This can be a daunting task. The fact that if you lose the weight you will feel better is reason enough to work toward the goal. In fact most people say they feel great after losing the weight they wanted. First you will need to establish how you got to the point you are at. It rarely is as simple as saying that you eat too much. In reality there may be many causes for weight gain.

In simple terms most people gain weight because they eat more than they should and they do not exercise enough. But on closer examination you are likely to find a medical cause for this occurrence. Some physical problems result in weight gain, and the side effects of many medications include weight gain.

Emotional matters can lead to weight issues as well. Not only do many of the associated medications result in a gain of weight but the person may find that food offers a form of comfort. This means that the person will eat in order to alleviate stress or discomfort. This may be because during the time they are eating they are focusing on the food and not what is bothering them.

Most of us have foods that we consider our 'comfort foods'. We may not always call them that but ask yourself what it is that you usually eat when you are not feeling well. Then consider the foods that you associate with celebrations. You see, we have emotional attachments to our foods. Most of my comfort foods seem to be high calorie.

Another issue is what you eat and when. To go a step farther, consider where you eat. It is best if you have an established place in your home for eating, preferably at a table. If you routinely eat while watching TV you will be more likely to develop the habit of snacking while watching TV. Since many of us spend a lot of time in front of the TV this can result in a weight gain.

Try to eat several times a day, but eat smaller portions. This will prevent you from getting hungry and you will not feel the need to overeat. Planning your meals ahead of time can also help. This allows you to put thought into what foods will be more nutritious and less fattening.

It is very wise to add exercise to your life, whether you want to lose weight or not, the added activity will result in you feeling your best. The trick is to start slowly. Do simple things like not keeping the remotes next to you. The simple task of walking across the room to change channels can make a small difference in your metabolism rate, which is key to weight loss.

By making simple changes in your life you can lose the unwanted weight and feel great. Your physical health is likely to improve and emotionally you will take more pride in yourself and your accomplishment. Fortunately there are programs available to help us through the difficult phase of getting started. Some of us need motivational quotes for inspiration and others need a simple plan to follow. You find can all of that and more.