It happens to everyone. At one point or another, those of us working hard to lose weight end up searching for an easy miracle magic pill, something that gets us the weight loss results we want and quickly. Everyone has their own reasons but we all know that everyone has looked before or will look for the magic pill, the secret to fat loss.

Truth be told, pills of all types are not healthy. They are not normal or natural and they will NOT help you lose weight quickly and, least of all, in a healthy way. Now, if your goal is just to drop weight for a short period of time, and you would not care if the weight just automatically came back, then go ahead and try those magic pills you see on TV infomercials.

If you are serious about losing weight and body fat and keeping it off, then there are other ways to reach your goals quickly and, above all else, with your health in mind. Dieting and exercise. Those are the keys to truly successful weight loss. A few tips below! (But always check with your physician before starting any diet or exercise routine.)

Hydration aka Water and other liquids

One of the absolute best things in life is water. Why do I say that?

1. Water fills you up. After you drink a glass of water, you tend to feel less hungry, which helps if you need a bit of a push to control your appetite and cravings.

2. Water cleans your system. The toxins in your body get flushed out when you drink more water.

3. Water keeps you going. You should always have a bottle of water with you during your exercise routines. Make sure to keep yourself well hydrated during and after your workout because you lose a good amount of water through sweating. Money saving tip: buy a water filtration system, ie: Brita. Great tasting water at a fraction of the bottled water price.

What you do NOT want to drink during your workouts: "sports" or "energy" drinks. They are full of sugar, which makes you even more dehydrated (which makes you drink more of their product, see the cycle?).

Nutrition aka Healthy, Whole Food

The first step to establishing a healthy diet full of whole foods is by cutting out processed foods, those are basically anything that comes in a box and has ingredients that you either cannot pronounce or have no idea what it is. Most, if not all, processed foods have little nutritional value and probably none in comparison to whole foods. The process of creating these foods destroys nutrients that would be automatically found in the ingredients and don't forget that processed foods have tons of additives, usually salt to increase the life span of the food, not you.

Once you cut out processed foods, add plenty of fruits and vegetables to a protein-rich diet. Always use fresh foods in all your meals, even during cooking, as in fresh tomatoes for tomato sauce, instead of canned. Despite what everyone says, there IS a difference in taste, and definitely a difference in nutrition.

Determination aka Don't Cheat, Don't Stop Eating

You are probably thinking, "Look, I WANT to lose weight. Why would you be telling me to keep eating? That's how I got here in the first place! Because I couldn't stop eating!" It does sound crazy a bit, doesn't it?

No, it isn't crazy at all. For you to lose weight, you cannot stop eating. Skipping meals will actually cause you gain even more weight. That includes breakfast, which should have lots of fiber and some sugar. Make sure to eat lots of protein (meat) and greens after your exercise routines and less sugar.

So do not skip meals. You can eat more often and you might find that you eat more too. That's perfectly okay but just make sure that what you are eating is healthy and nutritious.

To Healthy Eating!

So your immediate goal is to lose weight quickly. That's perfectly fine. The best part of eating well and exercising is that once you lose weight, you're already well on your way to healthy living and THAT is the true secret to fat loss, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating habits.