Being overweight makes many of us unhappy..........family doctor or a nutritionist. It is not advisable to do it on your own.

Being overweight makes many of us unhappy. There may be many reasons for our weight problem. Weight problems often run in the family. It could be a case of us overeating to make ourselves feel better when we are sad, stressed or lonely.

The issue of weight loss is a tricky one. A lot of people are unhappy with their present weight, but most are not sure how to change it. You may want to look like the models or actors in magazines and on television but those goals might not be healthy or realistic for you.

Weight management is about long-term success. People who lose weight quickly by crash dieting or other extreme measures usually gain back all, if not more, of the pounds they lost because they have not permanently changed their habits. Therefore, the best weight management strategies are those that you can maintain for a lifetime.

This means that if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to change much more than just what you eat. You have to change how and when you eat. Equally important, you have to start exercising or exercise more often. Most people who lose weight and keep it off do three things. First, they find out why they are overweight. Second, they follow a healthy eating plan. Third, they exercise regularly.

A new diet may help you lose weight for a little while. However, the weight often comes back unless you find new ways to deal with the problems that are leading to your weight gain. This may mean learning new ways to handle stress, finding ways to feel less lonely or talking with a counselor about your feelings.

You should follow a healthy diet that you like and that you can follow. The diet should be low in fats and sugar but high in fiber. Your doctor or a nutritionist can give you advice on what kinds of food are healthy choices. Remember to watch portion sizes. A healthy portion of meat is the size of a deck of cards. A healthy portion of rice or pasta is about the size of your fist. Read the nutrition labels on food before you buy it. If you need help understanding the labels, ask your doctor or a nutritionist to explain them.

Most diets are designed to make you lose a great deal of weight in the beginning. This is to encourage you. In actual fact, what you lose is mostly water and muscle. The water comes right back when you eat salty or processed food again. Losing weight is an uphill task and also takes time. So try not to get discouraged. Your effort will be worth it.

The key is to keep trying to eat the right food. The following are a few suggestions to help you change your diet. Make small, slow changes. Then, it will be easier to make the changes a part of your everyday life. For every few days, write down what you eat and drink that day. Use this record to help you see if you need to eat more from any food group such as fruits, vegetables or low-fat dairy products.

If you have a medical problem that requires a special diet, make sure you ask for help from your family doctor or a nutritionist. It is not advisable to do it on your own.

Summary: Losing weight should be about long-term success. Those who lose weight quickly by crash dieting usually gain back all, if not more, of the weight they lost because they have not permanently changed their habits. The best weight management strategies can be maintained for a lifetime. This means changing how and when you eat. You also need to start exercising. Doing these three things will help find out why you are overweight, follow a healthy eating plan and exercise regularly. Find new ways to deal with weight gain by learning new ways to handle stress and talking with a counselor if you need to. Follow a healthy diet that is low in fat and sugar but high in fiber. Losing weight is not easy but the effort is worth it.