Your New Year's Resolution Plan for Weight Loss

Time for those New Year's resolutions again. What is yours? If it's to lose weight and become healthy, this is as good a time to start. But In order to stick to your plan to lose weight and become healthier it has to be realistic. It has to be a plan that works for you and one you will be able to stick to for the rest of your life. In the next few paragraphs I will map out a plan that you will be able to take and make your own.

Decide to include more fruits and vegetables in your diet on a daily basis. - You should be eating 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. You should include at least 1 fruit or vegetable with every meal and/or snacks. These fruits and vegetables can be any that you like. But, don't just eat one kind, eat a variety.

There are so many types of fruits and vegetables you can eat. There is watermelon, blueberries, apples, plums, cherries, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, garlic, squash, and eggplant to name a few. So if you just start to think of all the fruits and vegetables I am sure you will discover some you like that you can incorporate into your daily diet. Some fruit and vegetable ideas for you are vegetable and fruit salads, smoothies, and using them as toppings for sandwiches.

Decide to include more fiber in your diet. - Fiber helps keep you feeling full, keeps you regular, and eliminates toxins from the body thus helping you with weight loss. You should consume 25 grams to 30 grams per day. Foods fiber is plentiful in is whole grain breads, pastas, cereals, berries, fruits and vegetables, and legumes such as nuts, beans and lentils.

You should be eating 6 to 11 serving of whole grain per day. Some ideas of how to get more whole grain in your diet is to have a high fiber cereal for breakfast or a snack. Make sandwiches with whole grain breads. Use whole grain pasta for spaghetti and lasagna, and eating fiber bars.

You should eat beans and lentils too. Beans contain around 9 grams of fiber per serving, and lentils contain16 grams of fiber per serving.. Besides being high in fiber bean and lentils are also high in protein which is needed for building and maintaining muscle mass. Some foods you can have that contain beans are beans with rice, chilli, tortilla chips with salsa and beans, burritos, bean soup, and baked beans. Some foods containing lentils are soups, chilli, and salads. Lentils can also be used as a side dish.

You should also eat lean meats such as chicken and fish and dairy such as yogurt, milk, cheese and eggs.

Decide to become more active. - In order to get your blood flowing to burn body fat, you need to increase your physical activity. This does not mean you have to do grueling exercises, you just have to become more active. In order to stick to physical activity it has to be fun or enjoyable. You can take walks, ride bike, play sports, play video games that get you up and moving such as the Wii, or dance. What ever activity or activities you decide to do, do them for at least 30 minutes 3 to 5 times a week and have fun.

In addition to becoming more active add some strength training exercises to build more muscle. Having more muscle will increase your metabolism thus helping with even more weight loss. You will also become more toned. It doesn't have to be grueling. Do push ups, sit ups, squats, leg lifts and etc. for at least 15 minutes 3 times a week.

You see by making some healthy changes to your diet and increasing your physical activity, you will be well on your way to dropping off the pounds. This is not a change you do only for a specific amount of time. It is a change that you have to stick with for the rest of your life. By eating a balanced nutritious diet, and doing fun exercises this should be easy. I wish you much luck in your weight loss success.