Healthy weight loss begins with a smart weight loss plan.  The best way to lose weight is through good nutrition and a moderate fitness program.  I will give examples of healthy ways to lose weight that will result in a healthy lifestyle change.

Before committing to any type of weight loss system or fitness program, it is important to understand that you will be making an ongoing change to your lifestyle. At first, the changes will take some discipline but in time will become as natural as getting up in the morning.

You will find that the benefits are so extreme, you won't be able to imagine going back to your old way of life. Not only will you see gradual changes in the appearance of your body, but there will be changes in your mental attitude.

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins into the brain, which basically gives you a sense of well being or happiness. It also helps you to release tensions and frustrations so you are less likely to snap at those around you. So you can see that exercise not only affects you but everyone you come into contact with.

Of course exercise affects your overall health and how you feel. It is a powerful preventive medicine. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise fights heart disease, obesity and osteoporosis. My blood pressure was starting to consistently be high before I started my diet and exercise program. Now, my blood pressure is totally under control and I feel great!

I will cover some plans that are known to work and hopefully you can taylor something that will fit your lifestyle.

It is important for you to choose a fitness program that you actually enjoy. If you absolutely hate running, then don't commit to starting a running program. It will just be torture and it is almost certain you won't stick with it. There are plenty of ways to get fitness, that something out there is sure to please you.

For me, the perfect program is jazzercise. I love music and I love to dance. This isn't a typical aerobics class with a lot of high kicking and set routines day after day. A jazzercise workout changes daily. There are always new songs and new choreography. Jazzercise classes are basically a dance workout. The routines are set to popular dance music with an emphasis on core exercise. The hour long class is spent with dance routines for the first half and weight training and floor exercises the second half. The only equipment needed are free weights and an exercise mat. Occasionally an exercise ball or tube will be used. The dance and floor routines also use some kickboxing and pilates moves. Jazzercise is an all around, good, all body work out.

Kickboxing is another fun class to be involved with. It is a bit more stringent with set routines. I went to one class and there was music in the background. I found myself wanting to be a little more free with my movements.  I got happy feet - probably because I am used to jazzercise. It was a great workout though and I know a lot of people who love it. You definitely can let out some frustrations with all of the kicking and boxing of the punching bag. The only things you need to bring to this class are gloves and a mat for floor routines.

Of course you could join a gym where there is a huge variety of excercise equipment and classes. Just be careful that you have enough desire and motivation to use this equipment. Is it fun or just a task? If it is fun for you and you don't need a group of people to keep you motivated then you will probably stick with it.

Think of other things you enjoy. Biking, hiking, skiing, rollerblading - these are all great forms of exercising. When you are doing something active that you enjoy, you don't even realize that you are working out. The key is to do it regularly to stay in shape.

Just walking has tremendous benefits. Instead of always trying to find a close parking spot, purposely park far away so that you can walk. Keep your pace brisk to benefit the most. If you have the choice of stairs or the elevator, choose the stairs. Things like these don't cost a dime and will help you to squeeze in fitness.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you enjoy it and it will be a lifestyle change. Once you start seeing the benefits, you will only want to do more.

Our attitudes toward food really need to change before we can ever see the great benefits of good nutrition.

It is so easy to use food as a crutch when we are feeling down.  We have a bad day and so grab a cookie.  The thought process is "this tastes good, at least that will make me feel better."  The sad part is that we are probably too focused on the bad day that the taste of the cookie goes unnoticed.  Or worse yet, you wonder where the box of cookies even went so fast.

Instead we should be eating to live and enjoying every minute of it.  Once you start putting away the processed foods and start eating fresh fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains and proteins, you will start to feel like a million bucks.

The best diet plan is to eat sensible, nutritious meals in moderate proportions.  Cut out processed, fatty foods that offer no nutritional value.  But, do allow yourself the occasional sweet (in moderation).  That way you won't overindulge at a weak moment.

Always, always, always eat breakfast.  Try to eat withing the first half hour of being awake.  Eating a high fiber breakfast works great for jump starting your metabolism for the day.  High fiber meals are also filling and low in calories so you are less likely to overeat and gain weight.

Watch sodium intake: I had become very conscience about how much sodium was in foods when I started watching for it.  Because of my blood pressure problem, I also needed to lower my sodium intake.  Not only that but I suffer from migraine headaches and I am certain that foods with MSG (monosodium glutamate) trigger some of the headaches.  Once I started using less sodium and MSG, I really started noticing a difference in my health.  My blood pressure is at a normal level and I have fewer headaches.  At first foods may have tasted a little bland.  But now, I have learned to use different seasonings and love how my food tastes.  If I go out for dinner, I can definitely notice when something is cooked with too much salt - I don't even like the taste anymore.  Sodium is something we all get way too much of.  You will be amazed at the difference it makes when you start to cut it out.

When you are eating right and working out, the pounds will start to fall off. The two work together for optimal fat burning performance. It is a gradual and steady weight loss system that will stick. This is the only way to ensure that the pounds will stay off. If you simply restrict your self from eating, you may lose weight quickly but you will also gain it back even quicker as soon as you start eating the way you had been used to.

Keep in mind that when starting anything new, like a fitness program, it will take some discipline at first. Once it becomes a habit, it will become easy. In fact, fitness will become an addiction and healthy foods will start to taste better than junk foods. The best part is that you will feel great! When that happens, you won't want to turn back to your old ways.

As much as I love to dance, it even took discipline for me to steadily go to class at first. Since I wasn't used to it, it was tiring in the beginning. All I can say is - stick with it! It gets better very quickly. Now I can't imagine my life without it.