I love carbs like a fat kid loves cake. My love affair with all things bad, also known as pizza, cupcakes and cocktails has been a reoccurring problem for as long as I can remember. It’s a mixture of the yummy flavors, social satisfaction (from hanging out at the bar or getting together to chat over pizza) and mild addiction to carbohydrates. Although I would love to tell you what all the technical mumbo jumbo is with carbohydrates and saturated fats it’s not realistic that you’ll retain and use that information, so let’s just keep it simple.

 

When you’re kicking off the new year and are ready to fly right into a diet regimen that equals weight loss, there’s a ton of get-slim-quick rituals to tempt you. From diet pills and magic potions to mimicking a celebrity of your choice signing up for some miracle program, you’ll find a plethora of options available. However, with a little hard work and discipline, you’ll learn that losing weight and feeling great is easier to achieve when you do it yourself — the right way — without all the expensive tricks.

Cut The Cals, Cut The Carbs

Drop pounds by burning calories. Learn how many calories you should you intake daily by visiting sites such as Sparkpeople.com or FitnessMagazine.com to identify your target number based on your height, weight and lifestyle. Understand how many calories your body needs to craft your meals around healthier options such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables as well as lean meats. Pay close attention to your calories when shopping and dining so that as you plan and select meals every day, you do not go over your calorie allotment. To really amp up the progress, rid your diet of excessive carbohydrates  (breads, pastas and potatoes). Try low-carb products often containing flax seed. Write down your calories on a daily basis and include everything from your coffee and cream to your late night after dinner mint. If you can stick to your body’s calorie count or 200-500 calories below it, you’ll see the results even before you hop on the treadmill.

 

Get Off The Couch, Already

The fastest way to see results when you’re watching what you eat is to get a little physical. No matter if you’re jogging in the park or taking up kickboxing, burning calories will burn the fat. Start slowly to work your way up to a more vigorous workout. Pilates, power yoga and Zumba are all great beginning group classes to begin with. Try things you may have never done or maybe have been afraid to do such as joining a jogging class or bike club. After a few months, you’ll be working your way up to running and performing boot camp routines that you’ll love as you build strength and endurance.

 

Don’t Give Up

If you’re starting with day one of your journey, reducing your calories and your carbs while working out at least three or four days a week will be just the ticket to start. Give your body some time to adjust to the new you. Stick with your personal program even when you don’t see results right away. Give your body at least a couple of weeks to adjust and burn fat before you hop on the scale. Track your body measurements weekly with a measuring tape and take note of your chest, waist, hips, thigh and arm circumferences. You’re likely to lose a quarter of an inch or two before you see great numbers change on the scale. Notate your progress by capturing photos for great before and after tracking.