Today I will share five effective tips on how to lose weight. There are many more tips that can be discussed, but I have personally tried these and have found them to work out just great.

Tip # 1: Keep your body moving. No pain no gain. It's important that you work out to burn off the extra fat. What I've learned from weight watchers is for every 15 minutes of work-out equals one point. So to lose between 1-2 lbs safely you need to do about 28 points in 7 days. So if you walk for an 1/2 hour on your lunch break that would be considered 2 sets of '15' and that will be a total of 2 points for your walk. So if you will walk or exercise an hour that will give you a total of 4 points. Four points at 7 days will give you 28 points and that will give you a weight loss of 1-2 points without hurting yourself. Below I have included some exercise videos that you can do at home or work. Check out more exercise videos on You-tube or buy from Amazon. Also, you can read this article by a hubber name Hooksey regarding walking: http://hubpages.com/hub/walking-to-lose-weight

Tip # 2: Watch what you eat. You must learn to eat healthy. Check out this site: http://www.abouteating.com/ to learn new recipes and simple tricks that will help you lose weight. For instance on that site Rita Heikenfeld says drink water, but not just water try spa water: lemon slices that will burn carbs mixed with peppermints to fool the body thinking that you are fuller than what you are. Also eat apples, they control weight and crave your appetite. When I need to eat something sweet or in between meals because I like to eat every two hours, apples work. Remember the saying, "Garbage in Garbage out" Well if you eat a lot of garbage, some of that garbage might just stay with you and stick to your thighs. Work on eating healthy and start by cutting back on what you eat. You can eat what you like if only you will learn to cut back. Just remember when you take a bite of that cake just know that the other ten bites will taste the same. Therefore, get that first taste and then tell yourself, "The store will be there when I lose this weight and I will buy it later." Or tell yourself, "The store is going nowhere, so if I don't eat it today I will eat it later." Therefore, you can still fool your mind into believing that you are not denying the body, it's just being delayed. That has helped me a lot. There's nothing wrong with self-talk. Try it. It works!

Tip # 3: Join a group where you can get some support. I recommend Weight Watchers http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx or Spark People http://www.sparkpeople.com. The two are online support and there's much to do on both sites. Spark People have a resource categories that includes: nutrition, fitness, motivation, videos, the sparkdiet, and wellness. This is a wonderful site that includes so much more for those who are serious about making a lifestyle change in how they eat. Below I included a You-tube video, "Free Weight Lose Online" go and check that out as well.

Tip #4: Decide on what is your "WHY?" Why do you want to lose weight? This weight loss issue is definitely something that you MUST want. If you are doing it for somebody else, then the drive, motivation, and passion will not be there. In order to make something work, there has to be something in it for you. That's when self-talk comes in. You will tell yourself, "I can do it", "I will do this" then you must shake off the negative thoughts. So write down all the reasons why you want to lose weight. Read your list until you know your reasons from front to back. Write down your goal to lose and put a date when you want to see this happen. If you have to post it on your refrigerator then do that. Keep it in your bag, car, or your computer.

Finally, Tip # 5: Love your body. Talk to your body. Take before pictures of your body and prepare to take after shots. Look at yourself in the mirror each day undress and give yourself a hug. Tell yourself that you are gorgeous. You have to visualize yourself already thin. Think thin! While you are loving on your body take nice bubble baths with aromatherapy and seasalts or have a spa-at-home treatment. Below I have included a hub article by Maddie Ruud to explain spa-at-home. Don't forget to light some candles. Oil your body down and wear your best cologne or perfume before you go to bed. Do not call your body fat. Do meditations, breath in and out; close your eyes and see thinness. See yourself with the weight all gone.