If, like most of us, you find it much easier to gain weight than to lose it, you are probably a veteran of many weight loss programs that over promise and under deliver on results. There is a reason why the weight loss industry is over $60 billion annually; we want to lose weight but just don't really know how.

From your prior experience you certainly know that losing weight is a pretty hard thing to do. Success is often measured in very small amounts and it is very easy to become discouraged and give up the effort. It is absolutely true that you will need to have faith in yourself and your ability if you are to lose the weight you want. Without this belief you are defeated before you even begin.

Choose a goal that you can reach. It is unrealistic to expect to shed 30 pounds in one month; setting a goal like that will only lead to frustration. Keep in mind that losing one to two pounds a week is ideal; you are less likely to gain the weight back if you keep things reasonable. In addition, reaching even the smallest goal can be very exciting and help you remain focused on the end result that you want to achieve.

In any diet even the small changes matter. One such example is eliminating all soda, even diet soda, and all juices and replacing them with water. While that may seem very boring, the goal is to lose weight, not be entertained by your food. Even diet sodas have chemicals that you don't need and can make losing weight all that much more difficult. If you want, you can make your water more exciting by drinking sparkling water with lemon or lime added. It tastes great, is what your body needs to stay hydrated, and will help the weight come off.

Select daily exercises that are enjoyable. If you hate what you are doing, you will probably lose the motivation to continue. Just because you are trying to lose weight doesn't mean that you can't have fun, too. Work out to an exercise game on your video game console, play a game of basketball or just go walking in an area that you think is beautiful. Try to select a variety of activities that you can look forward to and the weight will come off.

If you go into your diet expecting immediate results you are kidding yourself. The human body just isn't designed for rapid weight gain or loss. One reason that quick weight loss rarely works is because the body doesn't react well to being denied essential nutrients and switches into a survival mode that makes losing weight without starvation practically impossible. It probably took a while for your to put the weight on and it will take some time to take it off and still be healthy. Be prepared to be frustrated with a lack of instant success but understand that, by doing things the right way, you will be losing the weight forever.

To lose your excess weight the right way, create a healthy eating plan together with a reasonable exercise program and stick with it. If you are burning more calories each day than you eat you will lose weight,..

Losing weight and staying fit really isn't a dark art filled with miracles and wonder drugs. Being fit throughout your life is an acheivable goal that is reached with self discipline and determination. There is much information on being physically and emotionally fit available for the taking at Century21fitness.com.