Healthy Ways to Lose Weight Quickly

One of the healthy ways to lose weight quickly is to set realistic goals of losing 1 to 2 pounds a week. It's a healthy way to lose weight and you won't beat yourself up physically and mentally by trying to take off to much pounds a week. Losing too much weight in a week is unhealthy and nutritionally unsafe as well.

Losing a pound a week equates to losing 500 calories calories a day. Either eat less or burn it off through exercise. The healthy way is by doing both while still eating nutritious well balanced meals. Unless you only want to lose a few pounds dieting alone may not be enough. Bad eating habits and inactivity tends to make the metabolic system sluggish.

Most people don't think of the heart as a muscle that can be strengthened. However it is possible to make it stronger through aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging, swimming, bicycling, etc. Diet when combined with exercise has proven to very effective in losing weight. But don't be fooled into thinking because you stay fit you can eat anything you want, it's possible to be fit yet unhealthy. Jim Fixx the running guru who started the jogging craze back in the 70's proved this the hard way dieing by a heart attack.

When you go on a diet and cut back on food what happens is the body adjusts and after awhile it slows down it's metabolism. That's how exercise can play it's part by accelerating the metabolism back up and burning the extra calories. Aerobic exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, etc. tends to burn the extra fat stores.

When looking for healthy ways to lose weight quickly what you eat and when you eat plays a large role. To keep your metabolism revved up try to eat five or six smaller meals rather than two or three large meals. It'll keep your blood sugar levels and metabolism more consistent.

Healthy ways to lose weight quickly may include a change to a better diet. If you only want to lose a few pounds try substituting complex carbohydrates and whole grains in place of refined or processed foods.

Vegetables, beans and lentils have a low glycemic index and releases glucose gradually and causing less of a spike in blood sugar levels. Fruit juice is a healthy alternative to soft drinks, however make sure it's 100% fruit juice rather then just flavored. A better choice is eating the fruit instead as it contains the natural fibers that's often removed when processed. And whenever possible substitute fruit or fruit juice in place of sugar or sugar sweeteners.

Make sure you get enough protein, you want to lose fat and not muscle. A good source of protein is meat, however whenever possible use lean ground beef, poultry or fish in place of red meat. Protein is the building blocks of metabolism boosting muscle tissue.

Also cut down on the saturated fats and trans fatty acids you eat by replacing them with monosaturated fats (found in olive oil and other heart healthy oils) and omega 3 fish oils. Many of the processed foods that you eat now probably contain oils and preservatives that may cause undesirable long term health problems.

When looking for healthy ways to lose weight quickly you should eat a balanced nutritious diet. Reduce the serving size and not nutrition to take off those extra pounds.

By Adam Clark