One of our in-house dietitians shares five simple tips to lose weight

Whether you are just getting started on your weight-loss journey, or you've been at it for some time, here are five simple tips to lose weight that will get the scale moving in the right direction.

Of all my simple tips to lose weight, setting a reasonable weight-loss goal may be the most important

Did you know that losing just 10% of your body weight can enhance your health if you are overweight?

Many people set the lofty goal of quickly losing a lot of weight. However, research shows that establishing a more reasonable weight-loss goal will positively impact blood pressure, blood sugar, and other health markers. If you're not sure what constitutes a healthy weight for your height, consider checking your body mass index or BMI. Click this online calculator, which calculates your BMI and explains what your number means.

Take inventory of your diet and activity

What are your current activity and eating habits? Do you skip breakfast, work through lunch, or prioritize your health and weight loss regarding diet and activity. Before starting a new plan, identify what you are currently doing. Maybe you already employ several simple weight-loss tips, and just a few of your habits need fine-tuning.

Physical activity

Identify the type, amount, and frequency of physical activity. If you are not sure, keep track for one to two weeks. Consider using a fitness tracker such as a Fitbit or Garmin to get a more detailed picture of the amount of movement you get each day. You can also sync their data with the MyNetDiary app.

If you haven't exercised in a while, or you'd like to tweak your current routine, try this activity guide to create a workout plan that works for you (no gym membership needed)!

Food and drink

When it comes to food choices, how do you decide what to eat? Are flavor and cost at the top of the priority list?

Are you a healthy eater, yet your large portions prevent optimum weight loss? Try logging everything you eat and drink before implementing a weight-loss plan to see what you typically do when weight loss isn't on your radar. This information is valuable!

Find a meal plan that works for you

For successful weight loss, the best diet to follow is the one that works for YOU!

MyNetDiary offers eight Premium diet plans, including keto, low-carb, and vegan. Click here to learn more about the plans.

Set individualized lifestyle goals

Once you know your basic food and activity habits, you can decide what needs to change first to help you lose weight. If you are already physically active most days of the week, start setting a diet goal such as tracking what you eat and drink. Pay attention to how many calories you eat at each meal and, on average, each day.

If you already eat well and regularly control your calories, then perhaps increasing physical activity is a wise goal. If you need help in both areas, then pick only one or two small goals to work on first. Rome was not built in a day!

Setting small stepwise goals is not the same as setting your sights low. Establishing stepwise, achievable, and realistic goals is a smart way to meet health milestones, build confidence, and eventually meet your long-term goals. For more information on goal setting, check out these five steps to crush your health and wellness goals.

Don't go at it alone

Did you know that a support system made up of individuals who are also health-conscious can make weight loss more manageable and more fun? In fact, studies have shown that dieters who have a support network lose more weight and keep it off longer. Surround yourself (both on-line and in-person) with people and environments that support your decision to be healthier. To learn more about the power of support, click here.

We hope these simple tips to lose weight get you thinking about your progress so far and what shifts to make in the future to meet your goals!

Adapted from original content by Kathy Isacks MPS, RDN, CDCES

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Weight Loss->Goals & Monitoring