The keys to weight loss are not mysterious nor elusive,Many of us have been saying since January 1 that we're going to lose weight and by spring will look like a different person. This happens to me almost every year.Everybody is on the hunt for a magic formula that can shed off those excess pounds instantly, in fact they are quite the opposite. Healthy weight loss can be achieved by consistently adhering to tried and true principles of exercise and nutrition.

Drink More Water. Let's face it, most of us don't drink enough water. Not only do I start my day with water, I have a schedule to remind me to drink water. I try and drink at least a gallon a day. Sounds like a lot, but if you'll drink it in smaller quantities more often, you'll be surprised at how easy it is to do. A rule of thumb I found is multiply your weight by .66 and that will give you the ounces of water you need a day. 1 gallon equals 128 ounces. (with this equation, I should be drinking over 2 gallons per day, I'm getting there!)

Daily workouts on the treadmill are very strait forward and consist of more coherence than anything else. An individual needs to bring his or her heart rate up to between 55%-80% of it's max and keep it there for at least thirty minutes. Thirty minutes is the absolute the minimum required, but if physical activity is something new to the individual at hand, it would be good to keep it light for a few weeks to condition the body and prepare it for more vigorous activity.

The next tip is to eat healthy and smaller portions. You don't necessarily have to count your calories, just start becoming aware of what you are eating on a daily basis. In fact it is a good idea to keep a journal of what you eat. Studies have shown that people who keep journals tend to lose weight more quickly than people who do not keep journals of what they eat.

Studies have shown that not getting enough sleep can actually inhibit the body's ability to burn fat. The reason this happens is because sleep deprivation can lead to a hormonal imbalance which may throw the metabolism out of whack. As a result, fat burning is greatly diminished and work outs become far less effective and can make results far harder and longer to achieve.

Make sure you exercise regularly and make sure you burn certain calories per day; because more calories burnt means more weight loss. Either use a treadmill or jog continuously everyday. You would start to feel a difference in just a few days. Fruit has no fat and is mostly water, so it'll fill you up while leaving less room on your plate (and in your stomach) for high-cal fare