Need to Lose Weight? Here are 40 Tips

I've been blogging now for a few months about my own journey towards being healthy. Most of my blogging occurred after I learned by experience what worked best for me.  I know it can be a bit difficult to hunt through the blog archives, so I'm organizing my best tips and advice into one post for your reference.

Notice how I didn't say that my focus was on losing weight, but on achieving better health?  That is an important distinction.  If your focus is just on a number on a scale, you're really missing the point.  You could go on a liquid diet and lose a lot of weight, but you won't be healthy and it won't stay off.  I strongly suggest that you put your health first as your priority.  If you follow good, solid principles of healthy living you will see many benefits.  You'll have more energy, you'll feel stronger, you'll feel better about yourself, you'll be happier, and by the way, you'll lose weight.

All of these steps below are 40 links to my previous blog posts.  Click on them each to read the entries.

1. Make your commitment
2. Start your journey
3. Set your weight loss goals
4. Make a plan for eating clean
5. Take a "before" picture
6. Slip into a healthy routine
7. Time your meals
8. Consider working with a personal trainer
9. Strategies for resisting food temptations
10. Consider using a gym
11. A good basic dumbbell routine
    
12. Keep your motivation up along the way
13. Enjoy "cheat" meals
14. Use your smart phone as a fitness tool
15. 8 small steps towards better eating
16. Consider taking supplements
17. Break down your mental barriers
18. Drink plenty of water
19. Get the support you need to be successful
20. What to do when the scale starts creeping up
21. Understand body fat percentages
22. Take care of your mind
23. Relax
24. Control emotional eating
25. Learn how to grocery shop
26. How to tell if you're progressing
27. Set up mental barriers
28. Deal with setbacks
29. Healthy ways to cheat on eating
30. Choose a good diet plan
31. Enjoy the journey
32. Try these healthy food substitutions
    
33. Get enough sleep
34. Stick to your goals
35. Use food journaling
36. Avoid "health" foods
37. Pros and cons of weight loss pills
38. Don't get derailed by injuries
39. 10 tips for successful weight maintenance
40. Don't yo-yo diet

I was at a wedding reception the other night and two relatives told me that they have been faithfully reading my blog and that it has inspired them.  The next morning I was at my son's soccer game and a friend told me that he was also inspired.  I'm doing this blog for two primary reasons:  to keep myself on track with my own fitness goals, and to pass along useful information I've come across during my own journey.  It has definitely helped me, and the fact that it might be helping and inspiring others is really great to know.