Want to lose weight? Here's some of my tips.

[RWF]

Thought I'd kick this forum off by offering up some tips for women who are looking to lose some weight.

My Top 10 Weight Loss Tips

1. Train with weights. It's a common misconception that training with weights will make you look like a female bodybuilder. This couldn't be further from the truth. Training with weights increases strength, muscle tone and can help boost your metabolism.
2. If you can, train first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. I'm not going to get into the whole empty stomach vs not empty stomach debate, but simply put, your body will start using fat as a fuel source sooner if your stomach is empty.
3. Keep a log. Sometimes you have to find out what works for you, everyone's different. The only way you can do that effectively is by tracking your progress and looking back.
4. Don't cut down too much on carbs. I could write a whole article on this! This is a huge mistake, low-carb diets are not healthy and are not good for long term weight loss.
5. Stay away from weight loss pills. I don't want to get into a rant, just stay away and lose weight the healthy way
6. HIIT (high intensity interval training) is one of the most effective ways to burn fat. It's intense, short and effective. Not only is it gold for weight loss it's also one of the quickest ways to increase your overall fitness.
7. Eat smaller meals, less often. The 3-meals-per-day eating schedule is outdated. You should eat 5-6 small meals per day to promote a fast metabolism and help maintain/lose weight.
8. Control your portion size. 1 portion is roughly the size of your fist, no bigger. You'll be surprised how small a perfectly proportioned meal looks like compared to today's standards!
9. Count calories. You don't have to count every single one, but you should know roughly how many calories you need per day and how many you're getting. Only then can you set a long term plan.
10. Finally -- add variety! Boring diets and exercise programs never work! Switch things up to keep it all interesting...get your friends involved and have fun!

Any questions, or need some help yourself just ask

[Deri]

It's so refreshing to see such well-rounded advice. You know, moderate, healthful and applicable for real people. Thank you!!

[RWF]

Np

[Leah]

My boyfriend and I precook our meals. It makes is a lot easier to eat right and the right size. We take a day and cook 3 different meals put them in serving sizes and take them for our meals at work and just during the day. It has helped me A LOT. Just a suggestion.

[RWF]

Good tip Leah!