Accidents Happen: A Guide to Children's Emergencies

Losing weight isn't an easy task, which is why consumers spend billions of dollars every year on weight loss products and programs to help them. Finding a healthy weight loss program may increase your chances of weight loss success and improve your overall health outcomes. Don't opt for the program with the biggest and fastest weight loss claims, realistic weight loss goals should be set at no more than a couple of pounds a week for most people. Slow and steady weight loss results in better long-term success.

Nutrition

All healthy weight loss programs will include some kind of guidance about diet and nutrition. It's necessary to create a calorie deficit to lose weight, which means you need to eat fewer calories than your body burns. Most healthy weight loss programs help participants determine about how many calories they're burning and then aim to cut calorie intake by 500 to 1000 calories per day. Programs may use points or other tracking systems instead of counting calories, but they all try to get participants eating less to help them lose weight. Look for a weight loss program that emphasizes healthy portion sizes and doesn't restrict too many foods to have better long-term success.

Exercise

Healthy exercise habits are an important part of a weight loss plan. Even adding 10 minutes of light to moderate exercise a day can have great benefits. While longer and more intense sessions do burn more calories, light to moderate workouts still have benefits to your cardiovascular health and help with appetite control. A healthy weight loss program will aim to have most participants find an aerobic exercise activity that works for them. It's important to choose an exercise program you find enjoyable enough to stick with and one that takes your physical condition and any medical issues into consideration. Making exercise a daily activity is a more important goal for a weight loss program to have than trying to force participants into a strenuous and unsustainable workout routine to help them lose weight more quickly.

Lifestyle

Diet and exercise aren't the only components of weight loss programs. A good program will include lifestyle support to help participants keep the weight off and maintain their success for years to come. Opt for a weight loss program that helps address unhealthy eating and exercise habits and emotional reasons for eating to find one that will help you maintain your shed pounds.

It's best to talk to your doctor before beginning any weight loss program, particularly if you have pre-existing medical conditions, take medication regularly, or plan to lose more than 20 pounds.