I'm writing this guide to help people lose the weight without losing your money. I have been struggling with my weight loss since high school.  There was a point in my life where I said I had enough!  I was reaching 240 lbs.  I'm 5'9" tall and was in my late 20's. If I wanted to live longer, look better and be able to have children at a later time in my life I needed to do something.

I have tried every diet out there. Slim fast, diet pills, weight training, LA Weight loss and more. I would lose 10 to 20lbs but gain it all back. Then I started to look at everything that was similar to each program. Portion control, eating the right foods, drinking plenty of water and exercise. That is what you call the basics. There is no magic pill.  Surgery is only a quick fix, but once you have it and lose the weight, you need to learn how to eat and change your habits otherwise you will gain back everything you lost. .

Don’t go to LA Weight loss, Weight Watchers or any other place and spend your money. There plans are all the same. I know, I use to work for one! (LA Weight loss) Use the internet as your source for losing weight. Research. Find support and chat forms, look for healthy free menus and guides, read about success stories that hold true the basics. Keep your goals small. Try to lose 10lbs at first not 50lbs or 100lbs. Makes it easier to reach it. Don't weight yourself every day. You will get discouraged. Sometimes you will have water gain or your body is holding the weight but losing inches. It's just a number, look at how your clothes are fitting you. Try to weight yourself twice a week.

Once I figured out that it was mind over matter, I went to the basics. I had to learn about my body. I started to count calories. What was my bodies limit?  How many calories a day made me gain weight and how many made me lose?  I'm also someone who hates to exercise. So I figured in my calories with less exercise. My target was 1,300 calories per day to lose, 1,500 to maintain and anything over I gained. I also noticed that if I ate starches and large dinners at night I started to gain. I changed that. Now I eat light dinners with no starch such as chicken or fish with steamed veggies. I avoid fast food places. I ate much as I wanted to make me satisfied, but not full.

I also love sweets at night. So instead of ice cream I got low fat fudge bars or one chocolate pudding. Limited it to100 calories per serving. That was enough to stop the craving. I ate my starches in the morning and during the day. I have healthy snacks like an apple or nuts to keep my hunger at bay eating every few hours. Eating smaller meals and snacks keeps your body burning calories. Drinking cold water burns calories as well. If you skip meals your body will think it's starving itself and by survival, your body stores fat. Your body burns off starches and calories during the day and by night it starts to slow down for sleep. 

I do go for walks a night because I enjoy it. I clean my house and work in my garden. This is a form of exercise and it works for me. I lift weights about twice a week. I take into account what I've learned and adjust to my needs. I read up on how other people have succeeded to help keep me motivated and use some of there ideas. I shop at the grocery store once a week to supply my fresh veggies and fruits, going to the outside areas of the store. Fresh veggies, meat, chicken, fish, wheat bread and whole grains, lots of fruit. Write out a grocery list and stick to it. Don't go grocery shopping hungry.

Not everyone’s body is the same. Each person needs to figure out what works for them and stick to it. You’re not going to lose weight over night and you have to understand that. This is a life style change and you’re breaking old habits. Once you come to understand this..You are well on your way. I've lost 30lbs so far and still going. This is the most I have ever lost and it took me about 6 months to do it. Everybody loses weight different. Everyone gains weight different. Take a look at your habits and watch how and what you eat. You will start to see a patten. Once you find it..change it!!