Healthy weight loss

Choosing a healthy weight loss plan means forsaking the gimmicks and the fads, the "lose twenty pounds in a week" diets, and figuring it out for yourself. It's not easy, but the good news is that if you stick with it, a healthy weight loss plan will serve you for years to come. There are three parts to developing a healthy weight loss plan:

• The mental side:
• • Get help - either a trained professional (a doctor, dietician, personal trainer) or a supportive friend.
    
    
  • Set attainable goals - for example, one or two pounds per week is a good, attainable goal.
    
    
  • Reward yourself for achieving goals - but not with food. A trip to the theatre or some new clothes would be an appropriate reward.
    
    
• The food: Getting the food right is of course crucial. But if you break it down it is actually quite simple. Follow theses rules to get your eating on track:
• Eat natural foods. If you consistently choose natural, unprocessed ingredients - fresh, unprocessed fruit and vegetables, quality protein (chicken, fish, beans, nuts) and whole grains - you won't go far wrong.
  
  
• Moderate serving sizes: Keep your potions to a reasonable size. If you walk away from the table thinking you could maybe have eaten a little more, you've probably got it right.
  
  
• Treat yourself - sparingly and occasionally! Whatever it is that you really love - be it chocolate, ice cream or wine - can still be eaten, but in small portions, and just a couple of times per week.