How to Lose Weight in 8 Weeks

Losing weight is a tricky thing based on a simple premise: Burn more calories than you consume, and the pounds will come off gradually. Unless you have an extenuating health condition, a successful weight-loss plan includes regular activity and plenty of healthy food. Eight weeks' worth of weight loss may not change your body exactly how you want it, but it can be enough time to help you shed anywhere from 8 to 16 pounds.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk to your doctor or a dietitian. Cutting weight through a healthy diet is good for you, but it's important to make sure you will meet your nutritional needs and shed pounds at a healthy rate and meet your nutritional needs. Your doctor or dietitian can suggest a plan and help you steer clear of gimmicks and fad diets.

• 2

  Join a gym. Activity promotes weight loss, and once it becomes a habit it can help you keep weight off once you've reached your goal.

• 3

  Stock up and clean out. Temptation can kill a diet, so once you know what you should and shouldn't eat, stock up on the good and throw the bad away.

• 4

  Eat frequently. The best diets have you eating breakfast, a snack, lunch, a snack, and then dinner. They key is to keep yourself feeling full to avoid overeating, and to keep your body burning calories at an efficient rate.

• 5

  Drink water. Weight loss requires water for several reasons -- you need it to burn calories, to flush the toxins that result from burning calories, to bring oxygen to the muscles you're working, and to eliminate waste.

• 6

  Avoid alcohol. Losing weight requires you to burn the fat that your body has stored. Alcohol stands in the way of your ability to do that. When you drink, your body has to burn the calories from alcohol first, and that makes it harder for you to create the energy deficit you need to lose weight.

• 7

  Practice moderation and stick to it. If you're trying to lose weight, you're probably looking for fast results. True, long-lasting and healthy weight loss takes time.