How to Lose Weight Quickly and Safely - Achievable Weight Loss Tips

If you've been trying to lose weight for a while, you've likely seen - and maybe even tried - one or more of the "fad" crash diets out there. Perhaps you haven't even bothered, having heard from friends and family that crash diets never bring permanent weight loss.

Some of the crash diets make some pretty tempting promises though. If you have a big event coming up - a reunion, a wedding, bikini season - you may be seriously wondering how to lose weight quickly, and trying the Cabbage Soup Diet might seem like the solution.

So what's the deal?
Is quick weight loss possible? More importantly, is it safe?

The simple answer is: yes. Dramatic weight loss is not only possible, but Michael Dansinger, MD of NBC's The Biggest Loser notes that, "One could drop as much as 20 pounds in a week following a very ambitious eating and exercise plan, devoting more than seven hours per week to vigorous exercise, and under a physician's care."

Now, medical care and an extreme weight loss plan may be out of the question. After all, you have a life to live; you probably can't drop everything just to shed a few pounds.

Here's the good news though: it's very feasible to safely lose four or five pounds a week simply by getting lots of exercise and eating the right foods. Just remember, while an upcoming event may be a good motivator, permanent weight loss has to be something that you keep up even after the event has passed.

Tip One: Plan Ahead

The trap that so many of us fall into is waiting until the last minute. We put off our weight loss goals until a week before the big event, and then frantically try to shed those extra pounds.

If you have an event coming up, or even if you just want to lose some extra weight, plan ahead. You can shed pounds quickly, but your body needs time to change its shape. If you want to look your best, give your body the time it needs to make the changes.

Tip Two: Burn More than You Eat

It all comes down to math: if you burn more calories than you eat, weight loss is guaranteed. Try cutting 500 calories from your daily diet and increase your exercise and physical activity.

If you want to lose quickly, it works in direct correlation between the calories consumed and the amount you burn. A safe plan is to eat no less than 1,200 calories and get an hour of exercise daily. This simple plan can help you lose up to five pounds the first week.

Tip Three: Eat Lean

Minimize starches (and stick to whole grains), cut out unnecessary sugars and animal fats. For quick weight loss, stick to lean proteins, fruits and veggies. Eat a balanced diet, but cut out the "extras." If you're hungry, snack on fresh veggies which will fill you up without hindering weight loss.

Tip Four: Kick up the Exercise

The fastest way to weight loss is lots of physical activity. If you're already exercising, kick it up a notch. Quick weight loss will require at least seven hours of cardio exercise each week, and it's a good idea to add some strength training on top of that.

So as you can see, quick, safe weight loss is not only possible - it's absolutely achievable.

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