How to Lose 15 Pounds

Do you need to lose those extra kilos? Well, there is no easy way out if you want to know how to lose weight. The best way to do so is by exercising and cutting down on the calories you consume. You cannot lose weight overnight. A good workout program will not only help you to lose weight, but also give you a toned and sculpted body.

Best Way to Lose 15 Pounds

Keep a Food Journal
The secret of most successful dieters is to keep a journal and make a note of everything that they eat. You too can make it a point to write down what you eat, how much and when. In this way you will know where you are going wrong and look for patterns in your eating habit. For example, are you prone to overeating during certain times of the day? The food diary will help you understand what works best for you and how you can cut down calories by eliminating certain foods from your diet.

Eat Your Meals Slowly
It takes around 20 minutes for the brain to realize that the stomach is filling up and to signal when you are full. So gobbling down your meal, increases the chances of overeating. So, slow down and chew every mouthful of food. Eating slowly also ensures better digestion.

Don't Deprive Yourself
Allow yourself little indulgences once in a while. These treats sometimes provides you with an incentive when your quick weight loss program has hit a plateau despite your sincere efforts. Also, depriving yourself completely leads to an early relapse. Have a bit of your favorite chocolate pastry or strawberry cheesecake every 4 to 5 days. Just be sure to keep a check on the frequency and portion.

Best Diet to Lose Weight

Here are some ways in which you can lose weight and also maintain your ideal weight.

• Have small meals throughout the day. Your body will be tricked to thinking that its eating all the time and the metabolic rate will not slow down. Have five meals a day - 3 main meals and 2 sub meals. Avoid skipping breakfast and have a light dinner.
• Switch over to a healthier alternative in your daily diet. This way you will not only cut calories but steer away from fried foods and stock up on fruits and vegetables.
• Consume whole wheat bread and brown rice instead of white breads and refined rice. They are high in fiber which keeps the calorie count low and satiety quotient high.
• Change some of your conventional eating habits. Have honey and jaggery instead of granulated refined sugar and skimmed milk instead of full fat milk.
• Have egg whites instead of the whole eggs. This will help you in cutting down calories by about a third.
• In the evening when you feel hungry snack on toasted pine nuts and sprouts instead of reaching for that packet of chips and cookies.
• Consume fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel and cut down on the consumption.
• Switch to healthier methods of cooking like roasting, baking, grilling and microwaving. Use an oil spray while cooking to limit the consumption of oil in your food.
• Consume vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, beet and cabbage which uses up more calories to get digested, than the amount they contain. Also you can drink green tea. It contains certain chemicals that help in increasing the metabolism.

Exercises to Lose Weight

Some form of exercise along with diet control is essential to lose weight. For this you can go to the gym or workout at home. Your exercise regimen should include a cardio session along with weight training and stretching program. You can also go in for yoga, aerobics, kick boxing and pilates. If you do not have the time or inclination to go to a gym try going for an evening walk or jog.

So we have seen that you need to combine a workout program with an effective diet, to lose 15 pounds. How long does it take to lose excess weight? Well, there is no hard and fast time limit for it, so be a little patient and stick to your diet.