It is common knowledge that the only way to lose weight is by burning off more calories than you consume. This can be achieved in 2 ways – you either burn more calories through exercise, or reduce the number of calories that you consume through diet. However, the most effective way to lose weight is through a combination of these two approaches. Together, diet and exercise make for a lethal combination against body fat. The good news is that you don’t have to starve yourself to lose weight.

Your Metabolic Rate
Food provides  energy for the body, and our metabolic rate determines how quickly this food is burnt up. The higher your metabolic rate, the faster your food is converted into energy. You need to eat enough food to keep your metabolism going. If you starve yourself, your body reacts by preserving your fat stores and starts burning muscle instead, with the result that your metabolism slows down, making it more difficult to lose weight. As muscle tissue is the metabolic engine of the body, and the less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism. So, one of the best ways of raising your metabolism is through strength training. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even when your body is at rest and you’re not doing anything.

Eating Healthy Foods
Eating the right foods is critical when you’re trying to lose weight.  To lose weight, you need to eat 500 calories less than your body needs to sustain your current weight. You also need to eat regularly, 4 or 5 times a day, to keep your metabolic rate high. You can achieve this by eating filling foods that are low in calories. In this way, you will provide your body with the fuel it needs, but at the same time not go hungry. This means eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and lentils, and getting protein through foods such as fish and lean white meats. You want to keep sugary and refined foods to a minimum because these foods are rapidly converted into glucose and result in more food cravings.

The Power Of Exercise
The combination of diet and exercise is the  best solution. Ensure that you have an active lifestyle that includes both aerobic exercise and strength training. Even just walking for 30 minutes a day and working with weights 3 times a week will make a big difference to your fat burning efforts. As you lose fat and start building muscle mass, you may not notice the difference on your scale, as muscle is denser than fat, but you will find that your clothes feel looser and you  feel fitter and healthier.

A Permanent Solution To Weight Loss
The best way to lose weight and keep it off forever is to make the necessary lifestyle changes that incorporate both a healthy diet and exercise. Eating healthy foods, while building up muscle mass  will ensure that you reach your weight loss goals.

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