your weight loss plan

Did you lose some weight last year? If so, what did you change that made you successful?

If you are still fighting the battle of the bulge, then start with setting one goal and sticking to it. Below are some suggestions, but feel free to set your own goal. Just make sure it is realistic.

Get active. Strive for 30 minutes of activity most days of the week. This can be as simple as walking or exercising to a video at home. Strength or resistance training is very important as well. If you do not have two- or five-pound weights at home, you can use your own body weight for resistance. Wall push-ups, floor push-ups and chair dips are all ways of building muscle without purchasing equipment. Before you start any activity program, talk with your physician and/or a personal trainer to prevent injury.

Eat breakfast. Yes, this is one of the most important meals of the day. Your body has been fasting all night, and it needs food to get you and your metabolism moving in the morning. Make sure to include protein with breakfast. Two perfect examples to break the fast are a low-sugar cereal with milk or yogurt with granola.

Include snacks. Snacks are not meals so they are not supposed to fill you up. The main purpose of a snack is to put some fuel in your tank to get you to the next meal before you run out of gas. If you go from one meal to the next without a snack, you risk that starving feeling and will typically eat more than you should. Look for a snack that is 200 calories or less and make sure you eat only one serving, not several!

Evaluate your diet. Keep a food diary for several days and review it to see not only the kinds of foods you typically eat but also why and when you eat them. We tend to eat when we are stressed, sad or even happy and do not think about what we are putting into our mouth. If you stop and write it down and evaluate why you chose the food you did, you may be able to stop those negative behaviors. Remember, food is for nourishment and should not be connected with feelings.

Explore the nutrition section of this site for other tips.