Lose Ten Pounds in One Week -- Step-by-Step Plan

Weight loss is a major concern for the majority of obese and overweight Americans these days. When confronting my own weight loss problems, I knew the first thing I had to do was to admit that I was indeed overweight. That is the first step toward getting on the road to something better and getting help. Step one is admitting that there is a problem and deciding to get the right kind of help.

Step 2 - Good Foods, Bad Foods for Weight Loss

I made a list of the foods that I would absolutely not touch for this first week. This list included any fried foods, sodas, fruit juices, candy, chocolate, cakes, pastries, ice cream, really anything that had a high fat or sugar content. I figured most folks could go at least a week without these things and I could, too. I was going to take this weight loss thing seriously.

Step 3 - Eat Less, Eat More to Lose Weight

I made a decisions to eat smaller meals at regular times throughout the day no matter what. I found this to be key in controlling hunger. The best plan that worked for me was to eat five or six smaller, healthy meals every two or three hours all day long. I would always have a full glass of water before eating as this would make my stomach feel fuller. Of course, I would eat nothing after eight o'clock in the evening. I began to lose weight after the second day.

Step 5 - More Sleep Means More Weight Loss

Determine to get enough rest. There is increasing evidence that adequate rest is a big help in overall weight loss. The reason getting enough sleep is important is that folks who are not getting sufficient rest are more likely to eat in order to make up for the tired feeling they get in the afternoon. They usually eat something with sugar as that tends to give a lift. People who don't sleep enough also have more hours during the day in which to eat. Combine both of those and you've got the makings of some slow but sure weight gain over a period of time.

Step 5 - Exercise More to Lose Weight

As much as I hated it, I had to exercise, or at least get started in the right direction. I read an article about a guy who was morbidly obese and could only walk to the corner of his block and back the first time he tried to start exercising. I remember thinking what a tremendous effort it must have ben for him to get out there and do it. Everyday, this guy would walk a little further until he could go several blocks. Long story short, this guy started losing weight as his exercise level increased.

Exercise is probably the toughest part about losing weight. Some people really like exercise but I am not one of those people. Another thing that was getting in the way was what people would think of a fat person working out at the gym. When I finally worked up the courage to go to the gym, I discovered that there were a lot of fit folks there, but there were also some fat folks like me working out. That made me think a bit, and I realized what a challenge it was for them to be there. I soon decided that my weight loss was more important than what people thought of the way I looked. I lost more than ten pounds in one week.

Time for You to Make a Decision

So what's standing in the way of your weight loss? Is it the ability to decide if you're overweight? To help in making the right decision, just take a look at yourself in the mirror an you may want to get rid of that belly, or those hips, or that little bit of fat under your chin. Is food your challenge? Access is the key here. Stop eating out and only have healthy, low fat foods available around you at home, the office, and in your car. Maybe your challenge is exercise, or what people think about a fat person working out. Let me assure you that most people who see an overweight person working to lose weight will have a lot of respect for you. No more excuse. Decide to lose the weight, and get started on that first ten pounds right now.