Do you need to lose a few extra pounds? With more and more people becoming overweight or obese, you may be tempted to just accept your weight. Unfortunately, this mindset is dangerous and unhealthy. The following advice can help you create a sustainable weight loss plan. Losing weight should not be hard; try these strategies and you will surely see great results.

It is hard to find someone who does not love the taste of french fries. It is important to avoid them if it all possible. However, if you bake fries, they could actually help you lose weight. After slicing potatoes into 1/2″ strips, place in a bowl along with 1T of canola oil. Sprinkle with pepper, salt and other seasonings of your choice. Arrange the fries on a roaster pan or cookie sheet in just one layer and bake at 400 degrees in your oven for 30 minutes. Loosen with a spatula, turn, and bake another 10 min. or so. They’re really delicious with ketchup, a lot lower in calories and you’ll never miss the deep frying. These “French Bakes” were provided by Laurel’s Kitchen cookbook.

It is important to exercise when you are on a weight loss regimen. If you can, purchase a gym membership. You may also want to try jogging, Pilates or Tai Chi. It is always best to consult with your doctor before getting started though. Most exercises can be performed outside during the day or in the comfort of your home.

Partnering with another person is one of the most effective ways to stick with your fitness program. Knowing another person who has goals similar to yours, participates in the same workouts and follows a similar diet can really keep you dedicated. Together, you will find it easier to stick with the program during times when you might otherwise give up.

Try keeping healthy snacks at your home to help with your weight loss. Get a big, lidded plastic container. Purchase foods like celery, carrots and radishes. To keep vegetables crisp in the container, place ice in the bottom before adding your vegetables. By doing this, you’ll have something healthy to eat when the urge strikes.

One smart tip for losing weight is to stay busy so you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about food. When we sit around, we think about things like food and that creates a craving that we could cave into. Keeping busy is important to prevent this from happening so that you can optimize your chance for success.

Find a friend with whom you can exercise. This makes exercising feel more like an opportunity to socialize rather than a way to lose weight. You and your companion can motivate each other while you workout. You will be enjoying your company so much that you will look forward to exercising, which will lead to losing those pounds.

There is no magic pill for weight loss. You have to change what you are doing physically and tweak what you are putting into your body. If you will follow our tips, you will find success at effectively losing the weight that you want to lose and keeping it off.