Losing weight can be accomplished through various means. Crash diets and starving yourself may offer quick weight loss, but anyone who’s done it knows that the weight will quickly return. Your weight loss should be focused on improving your overall health if you want to see results that last and start feeling better along the way! These tips show you how simple it really is to improve your health through weight loss.

Less Sugar and Carbs

This may seem obvious but cutting back on sugar and carbs in your diet is an essential part of weight loss. Limiting carbs forces your body to burn the fat that’s already there for energy. Limiting sugar at the same time lowers your insulin levels, allowing your body to shed excess water weight. When you first make this change to your diet, don’t be surprised if you see a sudden weight drop because of that excess water being shed! If removing all sugar and carbs from your diet is too much for you, try just cutting them back a little bit more each day.

Balanced Diet

Once you’ve cut down the sugar and carbs, it’s time to balance the rest of your diet. Every meal you eat needs to include protein, fat, and veggies. A high protein diet instantly boosts your metabolism and encourages fat loss. Healthy fats will keep you from turning back to unhealthy carbs and sugars. Try to stick to low-carb vegetables. These will be incredibly filling while keeping your calories low and carb intake at a minimum.

Moderate Exercise

Being told to exercise to lose weight is nothing new, but how you exercise matters. You shouldn’t be stuck on a treadmill or elliptical every day. Instead of sticking to cardio, incorporate weightlifting 3 times per week.

Lifting weights helps to build muscle, and the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns naturally. Cardio can be used to speed up fat loss too, but don’t rely on cardio alone to achieve your goals. If you’re new to weightlifting, you should ask someone for advice to reduce the risk of injury.

Losing weight is the first step towards a healthier lifestyle. Not only will you look and feel better, but you’ll be healthier on the inside too! If you’re struggling to find the right balance of diet and exercise for you, speak with your doctor for advice.