This is probably the number one question I receive from prospective clients. Let me begin with the client that comes to me because they want to lose some weight. Let’s say this person needs to drop 50lbs. After we discuss medical history, past exercise experience, prior eating habits we start breaking down the steps to the new healthy lifestyle.

It is very important to remember to start slow and set realistic, attainable goals. There are no miracle pills or infomercial exercise machines that will get you healthy. It takes a lot of hard work, increase in your daily activity levels, good nutrition with balanced portion controlled meals, daily exercise and adequate sleep.

In order to get where you want to be, you need to know where you have been. It is vital for success that you document/journal the exercise routine you do each day, what you eat each day and how much sleep you get.

It takes a calorie deficit of 3500 calories per week/ 500 per day to lose 1 lb of fat. In order to diet safely, you should gear yourself to lose 2-3 lbs per week. It may not sound like a lot, but if you lose it this way, by eating right and exercising, your chances to keep this weight off for life has improved significantly. What would be the good to lose the weight really fast and gaining it back again, usually you gain that plus some more.

Start reading the labels of all the food you consume. Use a food scale to weigh your food. What we see as a serving is way more than a serving. Just by incorporating a scale into your routine, you may drop weight right away.

One major mistake people make is to skip meals, especially breakfast. You need to fuel your body for it to function correctly. We will talk about this in more detail in later discussions.

Add a little exercise into your day. Something as simple as a 30-60 minute slow to moderate walk per day instead of sitting in front of the TV or computer can make a huge difference.

Set attainable, realistic goals and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. Before starting any exercise routine, I recommend seeing your doctor for a checkup.

Author's Bio: 

I have enjoyed working out, biking and hiking since I was 10 years old. I wanted to find a way to use my knowledge and passion to help other people improve their own health and fitness levels and achieve their goals. After 20+ years in the corporate world, I went back to school and became a Certified Personal Trainer through the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and opened my own private Personal Training Studio, Z Physique LLC, to train my clients locally, plus I offer online training to support my clients nationwide. I work with a broad range of clients, men and women, of all ages, with varying levels of fitness, wanting to achieve a variety of fitness goals. Whether your goal is to reduce body fat, healthy weight loss, improve muscle tone, or increase your overall fitness level, I can help.