Common Approach to Weight Loss

The fight to stay healthy isn’t an easy one. There are no quick answers, no magic pills or formulas, no shortcuts to maintaining a healthy body weight. While some individuals may need to work a bit harder than others to stay in shape, weight loss is a goal that anyone can reach, but only when approached in a healthy and natural way.

The secret to weight loss is a simple one: in order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in. Calories that are not burned are stored as fat, and start to add up, especially around the waist, hips, and thighs. A pound is equivalent to 3500 calories, so it doesn’t take too many fast-food binges before you start to notice your jeans don’t fit as comfortably.

Before you can start taking steps toward weight loss, it’s important to have an idea what your healthy ideal body weight truly is. Remember that each person is shaped differently, and the ideal body image for one person is simply not realistic for another. Women, especially, may find they look and feel their best when 5 pounds heavier ,or 5 pounds lighter, than their recommended body weight. Check your Body Mass Index to get an idea of what is a healthy weight for your height and body type, but don’t fixate on a certain number as a definition of your accomplishment.