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If you are reading this then I assume that your goal is to lose weight and become healthy. In order to accomplish this you need a plan that you can adhere to. This plan should not be either a crash diet or a fad diet. What you want to create are lifestyle changes, or habits, that will last a lifetime. These lifestyle changes must be reasonable. If they are not reasonable you will not be able to keep them up. That is why it is crucial that you develop a realistic plan that you will stick with and in turn you will lose weight and improve your health. You will be surprised that the smallest changes in your lifestyle can make the biggest difference in how you act and feel.

Examine your daily eating habits. Think about the ones that are doing you harm. It is nearly impossible to break bad habits. The only realistic method to break these bad habits are to replace them with good habits. In reflecting on the foods and habits that have negative consequences, consider replacing them with foods and habits that will have the desired, positive results. In other words, instead of merely giving up the offending foods, what can you replace them with?

The following are some habits which you may consider changing. The key here is to replace the bad habit with a good habit in its place. These changes should be permanent. The question that you should ask yourself is "Can I maintain this for the rest of my life?"

One of the biggest problems contributing to being overweight and unhealthy is eating fast food. I realize this is difficult and seems silly, but this is a habit that should be cut out completely. Fast food places provide food that is rich in fat, sodium and additives. If this is something that you do frequently and eliminate from your routine, this one change in itself will produce some remarkable results. Either choose a healthier place to eat or bring your lunch with you.

I don't buy the recommendation of drinking lots of water. Your body is not a plumbing system. It does not have to be flushed out. You should drink only when thirsty, and for the time being it should be either water or unsweetened tea. One way to accomplish this is to eat less sodium and thereby being less thirsty. As for drinks that are artificially sweet; in my view they are bad for your health. Anything bad for your health will make your progress that more difficult.

Cut out all snacks that are either artificially sweetened, have sugar or too much salt. Substitute fresh fruit or whole grain products (bread or crackers) with all natural fruit spread (no sugar).

Someone had the bright idea in the recent past that several smaller meals are better than three regular meals per day. Honestly, who comes up with this stuff? Eating more smaller meals means never giving your digestive tract the chance to digest what you eat. My thinking is this; three good, wholesome meals per day. You can eat as much as you wish providing that you are sitting down and chew your food extremely well. If you find yourself hungry between meals then eat some fruit or raw vegetables.

And, of course, there is the magical ingredient in any weight loss program - exercise. Joining a gym is fine for many people, but I prefer organic exercise. What I mean by that is something you do outdoors, something that is natural. You can walk, jog, swim or ride a bicycle. What you what to do is oxygenate your blood and get your heart rate up, so 45 minutes to an hour would be ideal. Starting in the morning at the beginning of your day is the best time to do this.

Of course it is not uncommon for most people to associate weight loss with being hungry. Here is a surprise, you do not have to be hungry to lose weight. The truth is that eating regular meals and being satisfied will help you to obtain your goal. A healthy weight loss regimen does not involve starving. When you lose weight in a healthy manner, it is permanent.