If you've been thinking of getting in shape and losing a few unwanted pounds, what's stopping you? Sitting around and dreaming of a perfect body won't help. What you need to do is move that butt and do something about it. That means, firstly, no hiding behind the excuses like: 'I can't lose weight because that's my natural, genetic, body constitution, blah, blah, blah.'
Don't believe it. Losing unwanted body fat is not difficult, it's just a matter of consistency. It appears more difficult than it actually is simply because most people either expend too much energy doing the wrong things (fad/crash diets, weight loss clinics, pills that promise to melt your fat, etc) or give up because they cannot make the necessary lifestyle changes.
These may tempt you but they are gimmicks that usually don't deliver on their promises. The aim here is not only to lose calories but to do so safely and correctly. To do that, you need the right channel. Someone or something you can have access to at any time of the day. Impossible? Not while the Internet is around.
The first thing that comes to our mind when we think of weight loss is diet. It is usually seen as a synonym for starvation, also the most common folly dieters commit. Well, stop starving! Eating smart is the only way to diet. To compliment out varied dietary makeup, DietSmart offers six different diet plans to suit all needs. And all it takes is a simple registration form with your personal details. Accordingly, their experts determine the right diet plan and further customise it to suit specific lifestyles, needs and desires.
Who could possibly feel satisfied with a couple of lettuce leaves, or a single roti? It's important to supplement your diet with an accurate proportion of fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, and other nutrients in order to fight those hunger pangs. We don't need to cut down on the meal portions; rather, we need to cook the right things. Luckily, CookingLight gives you recipes and tips on how your meals can resemble a virtual feast and still be low in calories.
Our diet should create a mild caloric deficit. In other words, we need to burn more calories than we take in. And that happens only with thorough exercise. Burn those extra calories, tone those thunder thighs, plan your own workout, add exercise to your hectic schedule, meet exercise buddies and get motivated. Need more info? Try Nutrio, a complete weight loss/management destination.
A warning: exercise can sometimes do more damage than good, making it essential for us to take the advice of experts before we start our weight loss programme. Ask Anjali Mukherjee, the official nutritionist for our many Miss Indias. A leading fitness and diet expert, she counsels all on nutrition and health related aspects, especially with reference to Indian diets and food habits.
Keep in mind the fact that we do not lose weight overnight. Which is why we have to keep a record of calories and inches lost over a period of time. Get yourself a diary at Dietary Diaries. Apart from creating your personal diet diary, you can also read diaries of other weight watchers, along with diet reviews. The section winner's circle celebrates the achievements of people who have successfully fought and won the battle of the bulge.
Cyber Diet is a one-stop site for basic information on losing weight, and tips on maintaining it. All you have to do is fill an online form and receive a personalised, nutritional profile showing how many calories and nutrients you should be consuming daily. At the Daily Food Planner section here, plug in your daily calories and receive help in planning your meals, complete with a shopping list and recipes.
The Herculean task isn't losing weight, but keeping it off. And, the American Heart Association has an answer to this problem. They recommend a complete change of lifestyle to keep those pounds off.
So, all you have to do now, is stick to a healthy lifestyle. After all, you have nothing to lose, but excess weight!
Additional links
Calorie Calculator
Ever wanted to know how many calories you burn while talking on the phone, or sleeping? Just enter the number of minutes you spend on these activities daily, and find out.
Tandurusti
Calculate your ideal weight, calorie needs and BMI (Body Mass Index).
Weight Watchers
Take this self-assessment quiz to learn if you are really ready to start losing weight. And be honest!
Calorie Control
Curious as to how many calories you need to maintain your current weight? Try this calculator to find out.
Calorie Chart
A long list of foods and the calories they carry.
Quick links of sites mentioned in the article
DietSmart
CookingLight
Anjali Mukherjee
Dietary Diaries
Cyber Diet
American Heart Association
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