5 Steps to Lose 10 Pounds Fast

With summer just around the corner, people are looking for ways to lose 10 pounds fast in time to get into swimming pool shape. There is a right way to do this and a wrong way so make sure you choose the right course. While some people may be tempted to go on a crash-diet for the quick win of losing weight, there are numerous reasons why this is a bad way to control your weight.

Here are 5 key tips to help you lost 10 pounds fast and keep them off forever, instead of seeing your weight fluctuate up and down.

1. Drink lots of water - drinking water throughout the day is good not only for your skin, but also in helping you lose weight. People always seems confused over how much water they should be drinking per day. A simple formula for calculating how much water you need to intake is to divide your current weight in half. That is the amount of water in ounces you should be drinking per day. So if you weigh 130 pounds, you should be drinking 65 ounces of water.

If you find the flavor of water too boring to drink, spice it up with a slice of lime or lemon or some other type of flavoring. If you do not drink enough water, your body will save it, which is water weight. It may sound backwards, but by drinking the required amount of water each day, it rids yourself of the water weight.

2. Eat at the right time and in smaller portions - to keep your metabolism going, you need to eat at constant intervals. If you skip meals and go 8-10 hours without eating, your body slows down to protect you from starving, which slows down your metabolism and reduces the number of calories it is burning. Those of you that are bypassing breakfast to start the day thinking you are saving on calories, are really doing a disservice to your body by killing your metabolism. Research has shown that people who miss breakfast actually intake more calories during the day as they are prone to load up on sugar snacks when they get cravings before lunch.

While most people enjoy a big hearty dinner with the family, that is not the right time for it to occur. As the day winds down, your body needs less energy so it makes sense that dinner should be the lightest meal of the three that is eaten. By loading up with a big breakfast to start the day and finishing with a light dinner, you will notice yourself with more energy and are able to burn more calories.

3. Work those muscles - lifting weights two to three times a week is going to have a tremendous impact on your life. Doing this does not even require a gym membership, it could be as easy as using some dumbbells where you live. When muscle mass is increase, your metabolism when resting gets a much needed boost which helps you burn more calories, even if you are not working out or exercising.

4. Change your attitude - it is time to start changing your attitude about food and about your own body. Are you eating to live or are you living to eat? Don't buy into the fact that you need to be part of a weight loss program just to lose weight. Have confidence in yourself that this is something you can accomplish on your own. 

If you have a craving, one treat is okay for the moment, just don't let it turn into a common occurrence. Denying yourself cravings will eventually lead to a binge that will set you back in all the hard work you had put in.

5. Set realistic expectations - the easiest goals to reach are the ones that are set most realistically. Break your goal into smaller goals so you can see your accomplishments as you go. This will provide you with some satisfaction and also keep you on track toward the bigger picture. For example, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds in two months, a smaller goal would be one pound per week of five pounds in one month.