1.   Start eating healthy and exercise!

• There's no magical pill or machine that's going to 'melt away the pounds'!  It takes hard work and determination!  Make sure you have realistic goals, then you'll be more prone to stick to your regimen.
  • Never crash diet!  If there's a big day coming up that you want to look fabulous at, give yourself enough time to do it properly!  A crash diet is only a temporary fix and the weight will come right back!
• You need to burn more calories than you consume to lose weight.  So put down the cheeseburger and start exercising!  All you need to do is make smart choices when it comes to food.  I'm not telling you to deprive yourself of every indulgence just have them less frequently and in smaller portions!  The 100 calorie pack snacks are a great alternative!
  • Portion contol:  The restaurant biz is catching up to this trend.  Some restaurants are offering menu items in smaller portions and desserts have been downsized to shot glass sizes!  Try to always opt for the lunch portion too, not only will you save on calories but you'll also save a couple of bucks!

2.    Exercise 3-5 times a week.  

• 30-45 minutes of cardio
  
  • If you like running on a treadmill to get your cardio, good for you!  But if you're like me and hate running try out pilates!  The first couple of classes I couldn't stop laughing because the stretches were so foreign to me but once I got the hang of it not only did I get an entire body cardio fix, it improved my flexibility and my posture which was surprising!
• Strength training
  
  • Don't concentrate only on certain body parts.  Strength train your entire body!  Building muscle helps you lose fat.  A pound of muscle burns 60 calories, while a pound of fat burns 5 calories!

3.    Drink more Water!    

• Your body is made 60% of water and every system in your body depends on it.
  • The Institue of Medicine advises that males consume 3 Liters (about 13 cups/day) of water and females consume 2.2 Liters (about 9 cups/day) of water.

• Stay away from all sodas-  diet, caffeine free, even the ones that have zero calories!  If there's something in the ingrediants list you can't pronounce, you probably shouldn't be consuming it!
  

4.       Get plenty of sleep!!

• On average a person needs around eight hours of sleep.  You should wake up feeling energized and refreshed.
• I'm sure most of you have experienced what it's like when you don't get enough sleep, either you were cramming for an exam or out all night, you feel sluggish the rest of the day.  Your body needs this time of rest to restore and revitalize body functions.  If you don't get enough sleep it may make you feel hungry even if you're full and it may increase fat storage.  They call it Beauty Sleep for a reason!