Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any weight loss program.  Remember, you're not just losing weight to look good...your main concern should be to get healthy!

• No matter what weight loss plan you are following, you should be sure to drink lots of water!!  It is so important to stay hydrated!
• Instead of eating 3 large meals each day, try eating several smaller meals.  This way, you will spread your food intake out more evenly and keep yourself from getting hungry as often (thus lessening your chances of binge eating).  You'll also keep your metabolism going throughout the entire day so that you can keep burning calories.
• If you get hungry between meals, don't starve yourself.  It's fine to have snacks, but try to keep lots of healthy snacks (like fruits and vegetables) on hand, and use those to hold you over until the next meal.
• If you have a difficult time getting yourself to eat fruits and vegetables, try being more creative.  One of my favorite ways to eat fruits is to gather several kinds of fruits in a blender with ice, and make a smoothie.  You can even add a no calorie sweetener, such as Splenda, to give your smoothie more flavor.
• Exercise!  I know it sounds obvious, but exercise is so important.  Be sure to do toning exercises and incorporate some weight training into your program, because muscle burns fat!
• Try to find a form of exercise that is fun and that you will enjoy and look forward to doing.  This way, you will be getting healthy and having fun at the same time!  You will also be more likely to exercise more often instead of always putting it off for later or being tempted to skip it.  For example, try going dancing with friends...or even just dancing with the radio at home if you're self-concious.  A new and popular way to exercise is strip aerobics!  Many women enjoy trying this because it is different, and helps them to feel sexy and get fit at the same time.
• If you have a cell phone, try going for a walk while you're on the phone.  I have found that if I'm having a good conversation with a friend, I will often walk a few miles and not even notice how far I've gone because I am distracted by the conversation I'm having.  That's a few miles more than I would have walked otherwise, and a few hundred extra calories burned.
• Try finding a buddy to help motivate you.  Set up times to workout together.  This way, you will have an obligation, and will be much less likely to back out of exercising or make excuses to slack off.
• If you accidentally slip up and eat something you shouldn't, or don't make it to the gym, don't beat yourself up.  This will only make you feel worse.  Just get back in there and be sure to get back on track right away!  Nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes.  So don't dwell on it...just let it make you even more determined to to achieve your goal!
• If you're trying to fit into an old pair of jeans, bathing suit, or any other clothing item, try leaving it hanging somewhere so that you'll see it every day.  Every time you see it, it will remind you of your goal and motivate you to stay on track.
• Ladies, try splurging on some sexy lingerie that you really love, and let it motivate you even more to lose the weight and look great.  Once you've accomlished your goal, your new lingerie can be your reward (and that lucky man who gets to see it!)
• Don't let anyone tell you that you can't achieve your goal!  If anyone gives you a hard time or doesn't believe in you, prove them wrong!  Show them that you can do it, and they will feel foolish for having doubted you.
• Remember that you are beautiful no matter how you look, and that true beauty starts on the inside.  You are valuable, and you deserve to be healthy!