How to Lose 80 Pounds in 8 Months

With the obesity rates in America soaring high, it is becoming more important than ever for individuals to seek ways to lose weight for health and nutritional reasons. If you're looking to shed 80 pounds in 8 months, you will have to understand that it can be a challenging road ahead of you -- but the feeling of losing the weight and keeping it off will be more than worth it in the end! It is important that you follow a safe and effective weight-loss program to see positive, long-lasting results.

Instructions

Before Your Weight-Loss Journey

• 1

  Seek a full physical from your family doctor. A doctor will be able to determine your nutritional needs and any medical issues that need to be addressed in your diet and can even eliminate reasons why weight loss could be difficult, such as a thyroid problem which can strongly undermine your weight-loss attempts. It is important to have your doctor's approval on any new weight-loss diet or exercise regimen.

• 2

  Acquire exercise equipment, clothes, DVDs and accessories. The more excited you are about your weight-loss journey with new clothes, workout options and accessories, the more successful and effective your weight loss will be.

• 3

  Ask a friend to join you. Working out with the buddy system is a great way to not only share your journey with a friend, but to stay on track and on schedule and avoid skipping workouts and cheating on your diet. Friends are great motivators and a great reminder to work out and eat right every day.

• 4

  Change your grocery shopping habits and revamp your kitchen pantry and fridge. Clean out all the chips, cookies, and processed foods from your kitchen and stock up on healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables. It's a good idea to chop up fruits and veggies and separate into snack bags to make for a quick and handy snack any time of the day.

Losing the Weight

• 5

  Watch your calories. Calories and weight go hand in hand -- the more food you consume without burning the calories it contains, the more weight you'll gain. Cut your calories according to your weight and exercise needs and stay under your calorie goal for the day.

• 6

  Cut carbohydrate, fat and sodium intake. Carbs are the first to burn off during a workout, and next is fat. The less of these you consume, the faster you will lose weight. Sodium, on the other hand, can result in water weight, so decreasing your sodium intake will keep water from weighing you down.

• 7

  Exercise. Start slowly, with a low-impact, light workout 15 to 20 minutes a day, and work your way up over time. This is the best way to avoid injury and to avoid burnout and muscle soreness. Slowly increase your workout times and intensity for the best results over time.

• 8

  Drink a lot of cold water! Cold water tends to have a filling effect on your stomach, so drink a tall glass of water before every meal to decrease the amount of food you eat before feeling full. Water has no calories and is a natural cleanser for your internal organs.