Hilary Duff Reveals the Secret to Her Weight Loss Success

Never say never. That's part of what Hilary Duff believes is key to losing weight and keeping it off. The toned and tenacious no-longer-a-teeny-bopper Hilary feels that moderation is "key," according to an interview published in the November 2010 issue of Health magazine. Here are her tips for success - and my tips for following them:

1. Aim for balance by enjoying small portions of foods you truly enjoy, says Hilary. She admits that she used to feel guilty about eating French fries, but has learned to focus on getting back on her diet promptly.

What you can learn: Don't be hard on yourself if you eat an extra slice of bread at dinner, or help yourself to a scoop of ice cream for dessert. You didn't gain those extra pounds overnight -- and you're not going to lose them overnight either. Focus on taking one day at a time, planning your meals carefully, and returning to your diet immediately if you do have something unplanned. And one more tip: some individuals, such as Hilary, are able to eat small portions of foods they love. If you're someone for whom one taste of ice cream triggers the desire and craving to eat the entire gallon, though, you're wiser to keep it out of the house.

2. Discover new healthy foods, including snacks. Hilary has learned to snack on blueberries, Greek yogurt, veggies, and hummus, and she enjoys these and other healthy snacks throughout the day.

What you can learn: many dieters save up their calories for the evening, wanting to be "free" to eat all that they want at night. That plan can backfire, though, because they are so hungry that by the evening, they toss the diet aside and overeat. Studies show that smaller portions of food eaten throughout the day can regulate your appetite more successfully. In addition, try new healthy foods, such as plain Greek yogurt mixed with cinnamon (one of my personal favorites) or hummus with raw baby carrots.

3. Hilary has ramped up her exercise from doing "just Pilates" before, she told the Health magazine reporter. Although she continues doing Pilates a few times during the week, she also does circuit training to burn calories and keep her metabolism at its peak level.

What you can learn: it's important to include variety in your fitness plan. You may enjoy yoga, for example, which is wonderful for flexibility, balance, and stress relief. Complement that form of fitness with cardio sessions, such as walking three times a week, and weight-lifting routines, and you'll burn calories more effectively as well as look more toned.

4. Hilary works out with others to make the time go by faster. in addition, on the elliptical, she sometimes reads.

What you can learn: don't use boredom as an excuse to skip your exercise or cut your workout short. Get an exercise buddy, grab an iPod, or get a good book to stick with your program.

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Source: November 2010 issue of Health magazine.