How to Lose Weight (for Girls)

If you're reading this, you're probably considering losing weight to become healthier and possibly happier. It's not an easy process, but plenty of people have tried and succeeded at it. Here are some ways you can lose weight both happily and healthily.

Initial Steps:

1.Understand why you're doing this. Are you trying to lose weight to feel healthier? To make the softball team? To get into the wedding dress of your dreams or a bikini for summer? Understanding your motives for wanting to lose weight will give you a better chance at achieving your goals.

2.Get rid of unhealthy foods. Things that tempt you like sugary cereals will no longer tempt you if they're in the trash. If you live with roommates or relatives and simply discarding unhealthy food isn't an option, ask them to hide it or put it in a less tempting location.

3.Write out a plan. Whether it's an exercise plan or your meal plan for the week to avoid eating unhealthy foods, writing things out is a great way to commit yourself to achieving your weight loss goals.

Food & Drink:

1.Don't starve yourself. Always eat three meals a day and a couple of snacks in between. If you skip breakfast, it makes you put on weight because then your body then goes into starvation mode and actually stores fat!

2.Stock up on healthy foods. On your next trip to the grocery store, pick things like fruits, vegetables, chicken, turkey, fish and whole wheat bread. Low-fat dairy, like yogurt and milk, is another good option as well.

3.Order something healthy when eating out. For example, grilled chicken with a side of vegetables is a lot healthier than a burger and fries.

4.Drink more water. You should be drinking about eight glasses per day. In addition, choosing water over high calorie drinks like soda can save you several hundred calories per day. It will also help you digest your food better and keep you hydrated. The more water you drink, the less your body stores.

5.Chew slowly. When you're eating food, chew slowly and make sure all of your food is finely "mushed." Not only does this help your digestive system, but it makes you feel full. The reason for this is that if the food is un-chewed, it stays chunky through your digestion and builds up in the stomach area.

6.Eat slowly. If you actually eat slower, you feel fuller! This is because your brain takes up to 20 minutes to tell your body you ate. So if you try and eat slow, by the time you finish, the message is sent, and you're not eating unnecessary extra servings.

7.Cook food at home. If you're cooking your own food, you have total control over what you're putting into your body. You can find healthy recipes for any meal of the day on lots of different websites.

Excercise:

1.Set up a healthy exercise routine. You will want to set aside a certain amount of time to exercise like 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week.

2.Mix up your exercises. Find ways to make it fun. Pop into your roller blades, jump rope, do an exercise video or wake up early and take a jog. You could also take up sport lessons or a team sport.

3.Stick to your plan. If you take days off from your exercise routine, it will take that much longer to get back into shape and meet your weight loss goals. Make sure to find the time to exercise.

Mental Outlook:

1.Don't go by what the scale says. You will lose more weight some weeks than others. If you don't lose any weight one week, it does not mean you failed. Look at the overall process rather than a number on a scale. Do you feel healthier? Are you in better shape? Do your clothes feel looser? Stick to your plan and you will eventually achieve your desired results.

2.Do it with a friend. If you and a friend are losing weight together, it'll be easier. As a plus, you can talk to them about your experience and eat out at healthy places together.

3.Make a reward for meeting a mini-goal. The reward should not be pigging out at a diner or eating chocolate cake! Make it something like going shopping to get new clothes in your new, smaller size. That way, you are motivated to meet your goals.

4.Don't give up! If you didn't meet or exceed your goal, that's okay! You are working towards it. Some people meet their goals faster than others and it's perfectly normal.

Tips:

• Your period makes you bloated, so if you are trying to lose weight and you start your period, and it looks like you haven't lost anything or even gained a little, don't worry. It's just water weight. Once your period has ended, you'll be back on track.
• Don't forget that you'll love the new you!
• Don't eat because you are bored or food looks especially tasty. Only eat when you are hungry.
• You need to have adequate intake of calories to keep a high metabolism and at the same time reduce the amount of calories gradually so that the body will tap into stored fat to produce the required energy.
• It's all about moderation. Don't make yourself skip dessert all the time. Bite-sized portions of foods that you enjoy will make you not feel as deprived.
• Snacking strategically can actually keep your metabolism revved between meals, meaning you'll burn more fat! Just grab a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts for a healthy snack.
• Sometimes when you think you're hungry, you're actually thirsty, so try that first (unless you haven't eaten).
• After you eat, brush your teeth or gargle some mouth wash. This is to keep a fresh clean taste in your mouth, causing you to not eat any further.
• Right before you're about to eat something sugary think to yourself, is it really worth it?
• If you really do it, it really works
• Do not cut your calories intake drastically. This would encourage your body to store up fat in the long run. This is because cutting down the intake of calories sends signal to the body that it needs to store up more fat for survival as the body is not getting the adequate amount of calories.
• Weigh yourself once a week, in the morning, after you've used the bathroom. You should be losing about 1-3 pounds a week . Anymore than that is unhealthy.

Source: Wikihow.com