Summer is near and it's time to lose pounds for the pool. It is possible to do it alone, but a diet and exercise routine helps to get it done the right way. To lose weight, keep a daily journal of your caloric intake. This will help you eat less, and make better choices concerning the food that you eat. Exercise is very important, but a nutritious diet is essential when you want to lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight. It's ok to leave food on your plate. While you may have been taught not to waste food, this concept can lead to overeating and excess pounds. There is nothing wrong with taking leftovers back home. Don't eat something just because it's on your plate. It is important that you recognize when you feel full so that you can stop eating. A good tip to help you lose weight is to aim for a pound of total weight loss each week. Losing in excess of a pound each week is too much. If you lose weight to quickly, it is detrimental to your health. You also place yourself in a situation where you will most likely gain back the entire amount you lost. If your ultimate goal in exercising is fat loss, it's best to focus your exercise efforts on cardio exercises. Cardiovascular exercises lead to faster fat burning and an elevated heart rate. Cardiovascular exercise is simply any kind of exercise that keeps your heart rate elevated. There are many different options available, so make sure to find one that appeals to you. Give yourself a reward. Enjoy a small portion of a favorite treat and then get back to your healthy diet. Doing this doesn't mean you've fallen off the wagon. It means you are aware you are doing well with your dieting plan. Do not look for rewards constantly, however. You diet should be viewed as a lifestyle and not as something bad. Planning a meal with a coordinating physical activity is not only fun, but will help you lose weight. Are you having a picnic? Eat at a local park, and if you can, walk there. Planning meals around physical activity is one great way to lose weight. It is important when trying to lose weight to keep track of your calories. Simply purchase a cheap notebook. This notebook is now a food journal of your very own. Keep track of the food you eat, the number of servings and the calories contained therein. This is a highly effective method of monitoring your progress and zeroing in on slip-ups and cheating. Iced water can help you with the cravings that you have while losing weight. Cold water causes your body to begin to cool down. To make sure your body will recover and your body will burn the fat. Try to consume iced water as opposed to unhealthy drinks like soda. If you're on a diet, eat a big meal before going to a party to make sure you aren't tempted to consume some of the delicious but unhealthy foods that will likely be available to you. This way you won't eat too much unhealthy food while at the party. You can also try sipping wine rather than drinking beer or other mixed-drinks. Do you love pizza? If so, you can easily reduce the calories that you usually consume by eating it. You could wipe each pizza slice with napkins in order to get rid of the excess grease. If you are beginning to feel hungry, wait fifteen minutes before eating anything. Sometimes a hunger pang isn't really a hunger pang, but rather your boredom or thirst talking to you. When this happens, take a walk or drink some water. If you're still hungry, it's time for some food. Have cereal as one of your meals on every weekday for proven weight-loss results. When you eat cereal, you are ingesting calcium and heart healthy fibers. Not every brand of cereal has this benefit, so don't go reaching for Cap'n Crunch. Try cereals low in sugar, such as Grape Nuts or Total. You have to exercise at least three times a week for 1/2 hour in order to lose weight. An early morning start helps to get the exercise "chore" out of the way, whereas in the evening will help you banish the day's stresses. The key to losing weight is consistency. It can be difficult to lose weight, but you can use these tips for easier and healthier ways to lose weight. Put these ideas into play and focus on your goals. When it comes to weight loss, success largely depends on positive thinking and being able to visualize your future body. You do have the ability to change the shape of your body. Apply our ideas, get your head straight, and you will find that success is within reach.