Weight Management: Follow a Low-Calorie Diet

Here's How:

1. See your doctor. It's always a good idea to get a physical examination before you start any diet or fitness program. Especially if you have any health conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or if you want to take a weight loss aid, such as hoodia or raspberry ketone. Then start with the statistics measure your body composition and decide on your goals. For example, you can measure your Body Mass Index (BMI) with my BMI calculator.
2. Determine your daily calorie need. This step is going to be different for everybody and will even change for you over time. Use my calorie calculator for men or my calorie calculator for women to determine how many calories you need each day to maintain your current weight, then reduce that number by 100 to 500 calories. It's okay to start slowly with just a small reduction in calories - after all, this is a lifestyle modification, not a crash diet. If you're to exuberant at the beginning you might find the calorie restriction too difficult.
3. Get the right kitchen tools. In order to count calories you'll need to know how much food you're eating at each meal. Start with a kitchen scale and some measuring cups and measure out all your servings, at least until you feel comfortable estimating your portions by site. Remember that your beverages may contain calories too, so you need to measure what you drink as well.
4. Keep a food diary. You'll increase your chances of success if you keep track of all the foods you eat (especially on the weekends). You can keep your food diary in a notebook or use an online service like Calorie Count where you can enter your foods and the amounts into your personal (and private) account. The program keeps track of your calories and grades your daily diet for nutritional value. And it's free.
5. Choose nutritious foods. Since you're reducing your calorie intake, you need to be sure that every calorie counts - there's not too much room for junk foods on a low-calorie diet so eat foods that are nutrient dense. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables that are high in nutrients, high in fiber and generally low in calories. Choose lean protein sources and healthy fats like the omega-3 fats found in seafood and monounsaturated fatty acids found in olive oil and nuts.
6. Leave a little wiggle room. Although there isn't much room for junk food, you may want to allow yourself 100 to 150 fun calories each day for a piece of candy, a few chips or other favorite treats. Just be sure to watch your portion sizes so you don't inadvertently eat too much of those treats. Actually, you can also choose healthier treats, too, such as dark chocolate or a small glass or red wine - both contain antioxidants.
7. Re-evaluate your diet. If your weight decreases, your calorie needs will decrease and you'll need to adjust your calorie intake until you reach a healthy weight. Remember that the goal of a low-calorie diet is good health; don't let your weight get too low (below a BMI of less than 18.5). If your BMI gets too low, you need to increase your caloric intake a bit.
8. Don't forget about exercise. Increasing your physical activity is important for good health. If you don't exercise already, think about joining a gym, or setting up a home workout center. You can also walk, jog or run outside when the weather is good, and please, find out how much food you should eat before you exercise.
9. Think about some of the things you shouldn't do, like use food for comfort or as a reward. I can help with these tips for what not to do when you're on a low-calorie diet.
10. I've got some examples of low-calorie menus:
    • 1,200 calorie per day diet
    • 1,500 calorie per day diet
    • 1,700 calorie per day diet

Tips:

1. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. You can make meal plans for a few days or a week and use that plan to prepare your grocery shopping list.
2. Eat slowly and chew your foods thoroughly. There's no need to rush through your meals - enjoy every mouthful.
3. Drink plenty of water. Your body needs fluids and water contains no calories. You can add lemon or lime slices for a bit of flavor.
4. It's okay to use artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners to reduce your calorie intake, however you need to focus on good foods and not 'sugar-free' junk foods.
5. Choose low-calorie recipes. Many of your favorite foods can be prepared with fewer calories by cutting back on the fats and sugars. Don't worry, they'll still be delicious.

What You Need

• A doctor's appointment.
• Kitchen scale and measuring cups and spoons.
• A food diary or a membership at a dieting site.
• A positive attitude - it may take some time to change your eating habits.