This helps to cover your plate with low-calorie, fibre-rich, filling foods, leaving less room for higher-calorie ingredients.

Turn off the TV and avoid other distractions while eating — if you're not focusing on your food, it can be easy to eat too much or too fast. Use kitchen scales to weigh your ingredients before you cook.

This will help you stick to the suggested serving sizes. Whether you're after a better breakfast to kickstart the day, simple ideas to banish boring sandwiches at lunch, or quick and easy mid-week dinners, there's something for everyone.

The amount you eat is just as important as what you eat — no matter how healthy your diet is, you can still put on weight if you are eating too much. Having more calories than your body needs each day can lead to weight gain. To lose weight, the average person should reduce their daily calorie intake by kcal.

That means having:. Download the free NHS Weight Loss Plan to help you start healthier eating habits, be more active, and start losing weight. Don't worry, the app makes it easy for you — just take it one week at a time.

Let's make "one day" today! Better Health cannot provide individual dietary advice. If you or someone you care for has special dietary requirements, medical needs or an eating disorder, please seek advice from a registered healthcare professional.

If you would like more information on eating disorders, Beat has lots of useful advice for adults and children. Lose weight Quit smoking Get active Drink less. Home Lose weight Back to Lose weight. Healthy eating when trying to lose weight Find out what a healthy diet looks like when you're trying to lose weight, and see our tips, tricks and advice to help you stick to one.

How to eat healthier meals It can be tricky to know what to do with your meals if you're trying to lose weight.

Veg: go for 2 or more Aiming for 2 or more portions of veg in a main meal means half your plate. Protein: prize it! Carbs: stick to wholegrain Carbs like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta should make up no more than a third of your meal — and try to have wholegrain versions where you can.

Fish: try twice a week If you eat fish, try to have 2 portions a week. Dairy: keep it light and low Pick lower-fat and lower-sugar options for milk, cheese and yoghurts.

Oils: choose unsaturated Go for olive, sunflower and rapeseed oil, which have unsaturated fats. Spreads: be sensible Choose lower-fat spreads and only eat it in small amounts. Water: stay hydrated Drink 6 to 8 cups of fluid a day.

More about 5 A Day. Eat the right portion size Everywhere we look there are large and extra-large portions of food and drinks — this has left many of us not knowing what a normal portion looks like.

Scale down when plating up Try using smaller plates and bowls to help reduce your portion sizes at mealtimes. Made to measure When cooking, try measuring ingredients such as oil, butter and ghee using a teaspoon.

Self-serve and skip seconds Keep an eye on your servings. We know you know. You want to be Healthy for Good. Maintaining your ideal body weight is tough, no matter where you are in your weight loss journey.

Use these tips to set yourself up for success. A binge is when you eat a lot of food in a short time and it's usually not healthy food. Many people also eat when they are feeling upset, angry, stressed, sad, lonely or fearful. Emotions such as these can be powerful triggers to eat.

Here are some tips to help you control binge, emotional and nighttime eating. Home Healthy Living Healthy Eating Losing Weight. Losing Weight. Healthy for Good Topics Healthy Eating Healthy Lifestyle Fitness Company Collaboration or Search Condition.

Why Lose Weight? Conquer Cravings with These Healthy Substitutions We have all experienced food cravings — and often those cravings have to do with texture — like something creamy or crunchy. Healthy Food Substitutions.

Ready to be Healthy for Good? Join Healthy for Good TM and get our free Shop Smart, Eat Smart digital recipe booklet while supplies last! Science-based information You-based motivation. Join the Movement.

Plus, sleep deprivation might also alter levels of hormones that control hunger and appetite. Not getting enough sleep may be linked to a higher risk of obesity and might negatively affect hormone levels.

Try using a free online calculator like this one to estimate your calorie needs. Eating too few calories can be dangerous and less effective for losing weight.

Counting calories may be a helpful tool for some, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are preoccupied with food or weight, feel guilt surrounding your food choices, or routinely engage in restrictive diets, consider reaching out for support.

These behaviors may indicate a disordered relationship with food or an eating disorder. Here are a few nutritious meal ideas that can support weight loss and include a mix of proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbs:.

For some nutritious snack ideas, check out this article. You may lose weight more quickly in the first week of a diet plan and then lose weight at a slower but more consistent rate after that. In the first week, you typically lose a mix of both body fat and water weight. If this is the first time you are changing your diet and exercise habits, weight loss may happen more quickly.

Losing 0. Losing pounds per week is a safe and sustainable amount that can help maintain long-term results. Reducing your calorie intake and adding more physical activity to your routine can help you lose weight quickly and sustainably. Decreasing your intake of processed foods and added sugar can help you lose weight in 7 days.

Drinking plenty of water and adding fiber to your diet might also help. Exercising, staying hydrated, and enjoying a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods can help you lose 20 pounds or reach your healthy goal weight. For safe and healthy weight loss, 0. Eating protein, fat, and vegetables; drinking more water; increasing the fiber in your diet; and adding exercise may all help you reach your weight loss goals.

But there may be other things to consider, like what medications you take, other health conditions you have, your hormones, and genetics. Losing 10 pounds in a week is not realistic or sustainable. For safe and healthy weight loss , aim for 0. Losing 15 pounds in 2 weeks is unrealistic, unsustainable, and likely unsafe.

Healthy weight loss is 0. Read this article in Spanish. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY. Weight loss is a common goal, but you may want to know what a healthy rate for weight loss is.

This article explains the factors that affect how long…. Diet and exercise may be key components of weight loss for women, but many other factors play a role. Here are the top 23 weight loss tips for women.

Highly effective, well-researched ways lose weight include limiting processed foods, drinking more green tea, and taking probiotics.

Most people who lose weight end up gaining it back within a year. Here are 17 effective ways to maintain your weight loss for good. See 9 effective exercises for full-body weight loss workouts along with diet and lifestyle tips to help you lose weight while staying fit.

Here are 16 effective ways you can motivate yourself to lose weight. People often lack the motivation to get started or continue on a weight loss diet. Patients with diabetes who used GLP-1 drugs, including tirzepatide, semaglutide, dulaglutide, and exenatide had a decreased chance of being diagnosed….

Some studies suggest vaping may help manage your weight, but others show mixed…. The amount of time it takes to recover from weight loss surgery depends on the type of surgery and surgical technique you receive. New research suggests that running may not aid much with weight loss, but it can help you keep from gaining weight as you age.

Here's why. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based Want to Lose Weight Fast?

These Science-Backed Tips Can Help You Lose Weight Sustainably. Medically reviewed by Adrienne Seitz, MS, RD, LDN , Nutrition — By Kris Gunnars, BSc and Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD and Alina Sharon — Updated on October 31, How to lose weight in 6 simple steps.

Food type Adults Children Children Adolescents Protein ounces oz Food Healthy fat content almonds What about calories and portion control?

A note on calorie counting Counting calories may be a helpful tool for some, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. Was this helpful? Sample meal ideas for fast weight loss. How fast will you lose weight? Frequently asked questions.

Bottom line. Use small plates, bowls, and cups to make your portions appear larger. Don't eat out of large bowls or directly from food containers, which makes it difficult to assess how much you've eaten. Eat early. Studies suggest that consuming more of your daily calories at breakfast and fewer at dinner can help you drop more pounds.

Eating a larger, healthy breakfast can jump-start your metabolism, stop you feeling hungry during the day, and give you more time to burn off the calories.

Fast for 14 hours a day. Try to eat dinner earlier in the day and then fast until breakfast the next morning. Eating only when you're most active and giving your digestion a long break may aid weight loss. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. You can create your own small portion snacks in plastic bags or containers.

Eating on a schedule will help you avoid eating when you aren't truly hungry. Drink more water. Thirst can often be confused with hunger, so by drinking water you can avoid extra calories.

Limit the amount of tempting foods you have at home. If you share a kitchen with non-dieters, store indulgent foods out of sight. The degree to which exercise aids weight loss is open to debate, but the benefits go way beyond burning calories.

Exercise can increase your metabolism and improve your outlook—and it's something you can benefit from right now. Go for a walk, stretch, move around and you'll have more energy and motivation to tackle the other steps in your weight-loss program. Lack time for a long workout? Three minute spurts of exercise per day can be just as good as one minute workout.

Remember: anything is better than nothing. Start off slowly with small amounts of physical activity each day. Then, as you start to lose weight and have more energy, you'll find it easier to become more physically active. Find exercise you enjoy. Try walking with a friend, dancing, hiking, cycling, playing Frisbee with a dog, enjoying a pickup game of basketball, or playing activity-based video games with your kids.

Far from it. Since it was established in , The National Weight Control Registry NWCR in the United States, has tracked over 10, individuals who have lost significant amounts of weight and kept it off for long periods of time. Whatever diet you use to lose weight in the first place, adopting these habits may help you to keep it off:.

How choosing healthier carbs can improve your health and waistline. This diet can help fight heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, and more. How focusing on the experience of eating can improve your diet.

Tips for building a fitness plan, and finding the best exercises for you. BetterHelp makes starting therapy easy. Take the assessment and get matched with a professional, licensed therapist.

Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide. org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges. Please donate today to help us save, support, and change lives. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to go to the desired page.

Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Your Guide to Mental Health and Wellness. Return Mental Health. Autism Childhood Issues Learning Disabilities Family Caregiving Parenting Teen Issues.

Return Relationships. Return Aging Well. Return Handbook. Healthy Living Aging in Place Sleep Online Therapy. About Us Meet Our Team Our Story Jeanne Segal, Ph. Harvard Health Partnership Audio Meditations Newsletter.

What's the best diet for healthy weight loss? Weight Loss How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off There's a better way to lose weight. Copy Link Link copied! Download PDF. By Melinda Smith, M. and Lawrence Robinson. Four popular weight loss strategies Control emotional eating Stay motivated Cut down on sugar and refined carbs Fill up with fruit, veggies, and fiber Take charge of your food environment Get moving Keeping the weight off.

Four popular weight loss strategies 1. Cut calories Some experts believe that successfully managing your weight comes down to a simple equation: If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you lose weight. Weight loss isn't a linear event over time.

When you cut calories, you may drop weight for the first few weeks, for example, and then something changes. You eat the same number of calories but you lose less weight or no weight at all.

That's because when you lose weight you're losing water and lean tissue as well as fat, your metabolism slows, and your body changes in other ways. So, in order to continue dropping weight each week, you need to continue cutting calories.

A calorie isn't always a calorie. Eating calories of high fructose corn syrup, for example, can have a different effect on your body than eating calories of broccoli.

The trick for sustained weight loss is to ditch the foods that are packed with calories but don't make you feel full like candy and replace them with foods that fill you up without being loaded with calories like vegetables.

Many of us don't always eat simply to satisfy hunger. We also turn to food for comfort or to relieve stress—which can quickly derail any weight loss plan. Cut carbs A different way of viewing weight loss identifies the problem as not one of consuming too many calories, but rather the way the body accumulates fat after consuming carbohydrates—in particular the role of the hormone insulin.

Cut fat It's a mainstay of many diets: if you don't want to get fat, don't eat fat. Not all fat is bad. Unsaturated fats found in avocados, nuts, seeds, soy milk, tofu, and fatty fish can help fill you up, while adding a little tasty olive oil to a plate of vegetables, for example, can make it easier to eat healthy food and improve the overall quality of your diet.

We often make the wrong trade-offs. Many of us make the mistake of swapping fat for the empty calories of sugar and refined carbohydrates.

Instead of eating whole-fat yoghurt, for example, we eat low- or no-fat versions that are packed with sugar to make up for the loss of taste.

Or we swap our fatty breakfast bacon for a muffin or donut that causes rapid spikes in blood sugar. Follow the Mediterranean diet The Mediterranean diet emphasizes eating good fats and good carbs along with large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, and olive oil—and only modest amounts of meat and cheese.

Control emotional eating We don't always eat simply to satisfy hunger. If you eat when you're: Stressed — find healthier ways to calm yourself. Speak to a Licensed Therapist BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more.

Take Assessment HelpGuide is user supported. Learn more. More Information Helpful links. How to Stay Motivated - Srini Pillay, MD, psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist, discusses the missing rewards that motivate healthy lifestyle change.

Harvard Health Publishing Lose Weight and Keep It Off - Smart approaches to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Harvard Medical School Special Health Report Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths - Debunking myths about food, dieting, and exercise. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease Losing Weight - Including tips for recognizing roadblocks and keeping the weight off.

American Heart Association Cutting Calories - Strategies for eating more while still losing weight, avoiding portion size pitfalls, and using fruits and vegetables to manage weight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Low-Carbohydrate Diets - How a low-carbohydrate diet may help some people lose weight more quickly than a low-fat diet.

Harvard School of Public Health Just Enough for You: About Portion Sizes - Tips for managing portion sizes at home and when eating out. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar The Nutrition Source Harvard T.

Chan School of Public Health. Retrieved May 15, , from. Fats and Cholesterol The Nutrition Source Harvard T. Ma, Y. Single-Component Versus Multicomponent Dietary Goals for the Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine , 4 , — Making one change—Getting more fiber—Can help with weight loss—Harvard Health.

Nelson, J. Mindful Eating: The Art of Presence While You Eat. Diabetes Spectrum , 30 3 , — Research Findings. Richter, J. Twice as High Diet-Induced Thermogenesis After Breakfast vs Dinner On High-Calorie as Well as Low-Calorie Meals.

Struggling with emotional eating? Sugar American Heart Association. What is the Mediterranean Diet?

It emphasizes plant-based foods—especially fruits and vegetables—over animal foods. It contains plenty of protein. It is low in sugar and salt.

Here a few examples of healthy meals for weight loss. For breakfast, a bowl of bran flakes with sliced strawberries and walnuts with nonfat milk.

For lunch, a turkey sandwich on wheat with vegetables and an olive oil and vinegar dressing. For dinner, a salmon steak on a bed of spinach. Healthy snacks for weight loss include almonds or pistachios, string cheese with an apple, Greek yogurt or a banana with peanut butter.

Before you begin your weight-loss journey, do some brainstorming about the kinds of healthy foods you enjoy so that you can have lots of choices as you plan your meals and snacks.

Such styles of eating tend to have a few things in common—they tend to be plant-based diets, they emphasize healthy fats, no simple sugars and low sodium, and they favor natural foods over the highly processed fare typical of much of the Western diet.

For example, the Mediterranean style diet gets its name from the foods available to various cultures located around the Mediterranean Sea. It heavily emphasizes minimally processed fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains.

It contains moderate amounts of yogurt, cheese, poultry and fish. Olive oil is its primary cooking fat. Red meat and foods with added sugars are only eaten sparingly. Besides being an effective weight loss method, eating a Mediterranean style diet is linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression and some forms of cancer.

Experts developed the DASH diet Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension specifically as a heart-healthy regimen. The combination of food types contained in the diet seem to work together especially effectively to lower blood pressure and decrease risk of heart failure.

The key features of DASH are low cholesterol and saturated fats, lots of magnesium, calcium, fiber and potassium, and little to no red meat and sugar. Unsurprisingly, that equates to a list of foods similar to those of the Mediterranean diet—whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, nuts and olive oil.

As its name implies, the MIND diet Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay was designed by doctors to take elements from the Mediterranean and DASH diets that seemed to provide benefits to brain health and stave off dementia and cognitive decline.

In practice, it is very similar to both the Mediterranean and DASH diets, but it puts stronger emphasis on leafy green vegetables and berries, and less emphasis on fruit and dairy. In recent years, the Nordic diet has emerged as both a weight-loss and health-maintenance diet.

Based on Scandinavian eating patterns, the Nordic diet is heavy on fish, apples, pears, whole grains such as rye and oats, and cold-climate vegetables including cabbage, carrots and cauliflower. Studies have supported its use both in preventing stroke and in weight loss.

What do all of these diets have in common? Eating for your health—especially your heart health—by adopting elements from these diets is a smart way to lose weight. But is fasting healthy, and does intermittent fasting work? Fasting—abstaining from eating for some period of time—is an ancient practice that is safe when not taken to extremes.

Traditionally, the benefits of fasting have been both spiritual and physical. People who fast for religious reasons often report a stronger focus on spiritual matters during the fast.

Physically, a simple fast lowers blood sugar, reduces inflammation, improves metabolism, clears out toxins from damaged cells and has been linked to lower risk of cancer, reduced pain from arthritis and enhanced brain function. It can involve the following:. This can result in you eating less.

Try minimizing distractions while you eat and follow these strategies for mindful eating to slow down during your meals. Learn more about mindful eating and weight loss.

Drinking plenty of water can help promote weight loss by reducing your food intake, especially if you drink water before a meal.

It might also work by increasing fat burning , which can help enhance long-term weight loss. Be sure to choose water or other low-calorie drinks rather than sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, which are high in sugar and calories and could contribute to weight gain. Other benefits from drinking water related to weight loss include helping you stay hydrated while you exercise and helping remove waste from the body.

In general, drinking water helps your body run more efficiently. In addition to changing your diet and exercise routine, getting enough sleep each night may be beneficial for weight loss.

One study found that people who regularly sleep less than 7 hours per night are more likely to have a higher body mass index and develop obesity than those who sleep more. Plus, sleep deprivation might also alter levels of hormones that control hunger and appetite. Not getting enough sleep may be linked to a higher risk of obesity and might negatively affect hormone levels.

Try using a free online calculator like this one to estimate your calorie needs. Eating too few calories can be dangerous and less effective for losing weight.

Counting calories may be a helpful tool for some, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are preoccupied with food or weight, feel guilt surrounding your food choices, or routinely engage in restrictive diets, consider reaching out for support.

These behaviors may indicate a disordered relationship with food or an eating disorder. Here are a few nutritious meal ideas that can support weight loss and include a mix of proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbs:.

For some nutritious snack ideas, check out this article. You may lose weight more quickly in the first week of a diet plan and then lose weight at a slower but more consistent rate after that. In the first week, you typically lose a mix of both body fat and water weight.

If this is the first time you are changing your diet and exercise habits, weight loss may happen more quickly. Losing 0. Losing pounds per week is a safe and sustainable amount that can help maintain long-term results.

Reducing your calorie intake and adding more physical activity to your routine can help you lose weight quickly and sustainably. Decreasing your intake of processed foods and added sugar can help you lose weight in 7 days.

Drinking plenty of water and adding fiber to your diet might also help. Exercising, staying hydrated, and enjoying a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods can help you lose 20 pounds or reach your healthy goal weight.

For safe and healthy weight loss, 0. Eating protein, fat, and vegetables; drinking more water; increasing the fiber in your diet; and adding exercise may all help you reach your weight loss goals.

But there may be other things to consider, like what medications you take, other health conditions you have, your hormones, and genetics.

Losing 10 pounds in a week is not realistic or sustainable. For safe and healthy weight loss , aim for 0. Losing 15 pounds in 2 weeks is unrealistic, unsustainable, and likely unsafe.

Healthy weight loss is 0. Read this article in Spanish. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY. Use these tips to set yourself up for success. A binge is when you eat a lot of food in a short time and it's usually not healthy food.

Many people also eat when they are feeling upset, angry, stressed, sad, lonely or fearful. Emotions such as these can be powerful triggers to eat. Here are some tips to help you control binge, emotional and nighttime eating. Home Healthy Living Healthy Eating Losing Weight.

Losing Weight. Healthy for Good Topics Healthy Eating Healthy Lifestyle Fitness Company Collaboration or Search Condition.

Why Lose Weight? Conquer Cravings with These Healthy Substitutions We have all experienced food cravings — and often those cravings have to do with texture — like something creamy or crunchy.

Healthy Food Substitutions. Ready to be Healthy for Good?