Do you want to lose weight? If you are like most people, the answer is yes. You probably want to lose weight as quickly as possible too. But be careful; the best ways to lose weight are those that are healthy and safe. Here are a few great ways to lose weight.

Legumes and beans of all kinds help greatly when people are trying to lose weight. Beans have almost no fat, are packed with protein and B vitamins, and satisfy the appetite in a way that extremely low-calorie vegetables don’t. They can provide a healthy and lower-calorie substitute for meat; even for meat lovers. Legumes lend body and flavor to soups, veggie burgers, ethnic dishes, and many other things.

One critical thing people forget to do when trying to lose weight is to eat enough food. This sounds surprising, since weight loss ultimately is about eating less than your body needs to function. However, you must take in enough calories so that your body maintains its normal metabolism. Take in too little food, and your body will go into “starvation mode,” making the most of each calorie. So be sure to eat enough of the right kinds of foods when you’re trying to lose weight.

A sedentary life leads to health problems, one of those being weight gain. Our bodies were not meant to sit for hours, yet most of us have desk jobs that make us sit for most of the day. Sitting for that long can also lead to back problems. So every hour, stand up and move around for a few minutes. Go get a drink of water, use the restroom or talk to a coworker. It will help you boost your metabolism. Your body will thank you for it.

A great tip to lose weight is to eat a few servings of vegetables everyday. Vegetables are rich with nutrients and antioxidants and are very important to staying healthy and lean. If you’re having trouble eating enough vegetables, throw as many as you can together into a salad.

Juice: who doesn’t like it? It’s the sugary, delicious sweet part of the fruit. However, people interested in losing weight might want to cut out the juice. Although derived from natural fruits, most juices have no fiber and little to offer nutritionally in the way of vitamins, with the exception of the high levels of vitamin C found in orange juice. Tomato and V-8 juice fare somewhat better, and are very low-calorie to boot, but both are loaded with salt. So if you want to lose weight, either skip your morning juice in favor of morning tea or coffee, or choose one of the reduced-calorie “healthy choices” juices now on the market. You’ll still get that sweet-tart taste without all the calories.

One way to encourage yourself to lose weight is to keep a pair of cute jeans that are just a little too small in your closet. They don’t even have to be one size too small, just a little too snug to be able to wear out of the house. Try them on at least once a week. You will be happy when your diligence pays off because you will look smokin’ in your “new” old jeans.

Pack your lunch for work. In this way you can save money and control your diet. Make sure to have something with lots of protein and also include fresh produce. Plan out your snacks so you can avoid using the vending machine.

To easily make exercise a key component of your weight loss routine, you should exercise first thing in the morning before doing anything else. Typically, for even the most organized person, things can and do come up throughout the day that interfere with the best laid plans to exercise. By exercising first thing in the morning, even if everything else goes wrong during the day, you will have accomplished that task.

When trying to lose weight, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to go into this journey with a friend. Have a support system that you can lean on when you are getting discouraged. Having someone who is going through it at the same time is so helpful, and you can also learn some new tips.

To encourage yourself to stay focused on your weight loss goals, give yourself non-food rewards. After reaching a goal, you could treat yourself to a spa trip or a new piece of jewelry. People often use their success as a reason to break their diet. Giving yourself a reward that isn’t food can keep you feeling positive and help you to resist future temptations.

Some people feel like not finishing their plate is not a good thing. Don’t feel guilty if you are full and their is still food on your plate. You can wrap it up and save it for part of your lunch so it won’t go to waste. Don’t overeat just because you feel like you should.

Don’t jeopardize your weight loss program by needlessly comparing yourself to others, be they fellow gym-goers, friends, supermodels or classmates. When it comes to losing weight, no two people are exactly alike. Comparing your own measurements and successes to those of other people, is like comparing apples to oranges. It is not rational and often ends in discouragement.

Avoiding fatty foods not only does makes your waistline happy, but also reduces acne. Multiple research projects demonstrate the advantages of diets rich in protein and not so much in fat. The skin produces a balance of natural oils and adding big amounts of foods with a high glycemic index, like fries and sugary candies, will damage your complexion.

Losing weight in a safe and healthy way is a wise decision. Not only will you take the weight off right now, but keep it off for the future. Use these tips to help you lose weight and to stay healthy while you are doing it so that you can be satisfied both now and in the future.