You don’t have to go to the nutrition supplement store or even the local drugstore. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to maintain a healthy meal plan. No supplement or miracle weight loss pill is going to make you lose weight. Contrary to popular opinion, burning calories does not happen by taking herbs or diet pills.

The only way you lose weight long term is to burn more calories than you consume each day. A diet plan that works is a healthy meal plan that you continue to follow until you have reached your goal.

About 2/3 thirds of the population is either overweight or obese.

If a company could simply sell you a pill or liquid solution to burn fat and calories, everybody would be slim and health problems resulting from weight would be a thing of the past. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that there are no magic pills for losing weight or reducing calories.

Diet plans that work are structured for you to lose one to two pounds of body fat per week.

A healthy meal plan will give you structure as well as flexibility. If you follow the rules of the plan, you will see results. If you allow yourself some flexibility, you will stick with the plan longer so you can see the results. The plan is no good if you can’t stick with it long enough for it to work.

Structure

A healthy meal plan that works must be written down.

It is much easier to be accountable to something if it is in writing. The plan should give you the number of calories you need to lose weight. Meals should be structured around this number of calories. Do not skip meals to save on calories. You should eat 4 to 5 small meals each day to increase your metabolism. Eat good nutritious meals so your body will function properly. Eating late at night can ruin a perfect meal plan.

Every once in a while you can snack at night but don’t make it a habit. It is very easy for those late night snacks to end up being the size of a small meal.

You need to include exercise in your plan.

A combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise is ideal for increasing your metabolism and maintaining weight loss. You should strive for some type of exercise at least 5 times a week. Find an activity that you will continue to enjoy, even after you have reached your goal. For some people, just walking around the block is a big step.

You want to check with your doctor before starting any exercise routine if you haven’t exercised in a while. What ever you do, you want to get your heart rate elevated. A rule of thumb is you should be able to talk but not want to hold a full conversation.

Flexibility

In order to have a successful healthy meal plan you need some type of flexibility. Add foods that you like to your meal plan.

If these foods are not considered healthy or low calorie, you just don’t eat as much as you normally would. Keep in mind those foods that have the words ‘light’ on the package can still have a high amount of fat and calories. ‘Fat-free’ does not mean you can eat all you want just because it has no fat. Many fat free foods are loaded with sugar and are high in calories.

If you have been sticking to your healthy meal plan, then you deserve to have a ‘free day’. Every week or so, allow yourself a day to eat what you want.You will soon find that you do not binge as much on these days.