How To Lose Weight Quickly and Safely

 You want to drop pounds, now. And you want to do it safely. But how?

First, keep in mind that many experts say it’s best to lose weight gradually. It’s more likely to stay off. If you shed pounds too fast, you’ll lose muscle, bone, and water instead of fat, says the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The academy’s advice: Aim to lose 1-2 pounds per week, and avoid fad diets or products that make promises that sound too good to be true. It’s best to base your weight loss on changes you can stick with over time.

For faster results, you’ll need to work with a doctor to ensure you stay healthy and get the nutrients you need. 

Make a Plan

You’ve probably heard the saying, “calories in, calories out”; as in, you just need to burn more calories than you eat and drink.

But it’s not that simple, as many people can tell you from their own experience.

Your metabolism -- how well your body turns calories into fuel -- also matters. And if you cut too many calories, it’s bad for you. You slow down your metabolism, making you fall short on some nutrients.

There are many ways you can do this, without cutting calories too much. You could:

• Cut back on portions.
• Figure out how many calories you get in a usual day, and trim back a bit.
• Read food labels to know how many calories are in each serving.
• Drink more water, so you’re not so hungry.

Whatever method you use, you’ll need to favor good-for-you foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein so you keep up good nutrition. Working with a dietitian is a good idea, so you make a plan that covers those needs.

Get Accountability and Support

Many apps can help you track your eating. Since you probably have your smartphone all the time, you can use it to keep up with your plan. Or keep a pen-and-paper food journal of what you ate and when.

However you decide to lose weight, This is what I had to do.

I changed everything I was eating. I knew I had to cut calories but I didn't want to starve. I had to eat whole foods like fruits and vegetables. I ate mostly chicken breasts and fish with fruit and vegetables. I avoided any type of gravy, sauce, or condiments. I did use seasoning. I stopped drinking anything with calories and stopped eating dairy products. 

I used this food pyramid to make my food choices. I know that yogurt and cheese are on the pyramid but I left them out of my diet. I followed the chart eating mostly from the section marked Daily. It's important that you take supplements while you diet. Make sure you get at least 60 grams of protein every day. I take a plant-based protein supplement. One more tip: stop eating out. Make your own meals.

Follow me on X, the former Twitter, @ray0369 to get a link to my latest posts.

If you want to lose your body fat look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You’ll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books. There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. 

Look for my first book at Amazon.com, bn.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.

My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com and other online bookstores. Just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page. 

Look for my podcast by searching “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight” on the podcast app that you use. You’ll see a piece of my book cover.