Way to Lose Weight & Look Skinny

Keeping a trim figure can be hard work. Doctors encourage people to lead a healthy lifestyle in order to stay healthy. This means eating a well-balanced diet and getting a moderate amount of exercise. If you truly want to lose weight and feel slimmer, stay consistent with the diet plan you choose. You can also dress in ways that make you look thinner than you really are. This may help you stick to your diet.

Devise a Diet Plan

• Each person is different, therefore people will lose weight at different rates and in different ways. Start by eating a well-balanced diet and keeping a food journal. This will discourage you from snacking throughout the day.

  Counting calories is crucial. This is tedious and a pain for many people, but simply eating healthy doesn't mean you won't eat more than your body needs.

  Plan your meals a week at a time. This includes all meals and snacks. Purchase and prepare food ahead of time, if you can, and write the calories down on the meal calendar. This will prevent you from driving through a fast food restaurant at lunch or dinner time. Having a meal calendar will also make dieting easier and require less thought at meal or snack time.

  Before you start your diet plan, or if you want to try some of the diet plans you see on television, check with your doctor first.

Get Some Exercise

• Exercising 3 to 4 times a week will help you lose weight. If you aren't the type to jump onto a machine, consider taking classes at a fitness center. Many centers offer belly dancing, hip hop dance, aerobics, yoga and other fun exercise classes. You can sign up for more than one class if you are feeling adventurous.

  Another option is to take small steps each day, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking your car away from the entrance door and taking a brisk walk. The point is to get your heart rate up.

  Toning exercises are good for tightening muscles. Arm flab can be reduced or eliminated by using small hand weights. Crunches will help tone your stomach and leg lifts will tighten your calves and thighs. You can do toning exercises in the comfort of your own home, which is more appealing to some.

Dress to Look Skinny

• Wearing certain clothes can make you look thinner. A good rule of thumb is that dark clothing generally makes you look skinnier. However, that doesn't mean you should wear all black all the time. Wearing dark pants with a light top, or a dark top with blue jeans or navy blue bottoms looks nice on everyone.

  If the lower portion of your body is larger than your upper portion, try to create a balance by wearing bottoms that flare out a bit at the bottom of the leg. A straight leg looks better than a tapered leg. Also, avoid pants that have large prints or bright colors, since this will make your lower half stand out.

  If the upper portion of your body is larger, try to create a balance by wearing tops that are narrow at the shoulders and bust.