There are several different approaches to weight loss. Often times, just trying to figure what to do keeps many people from even starting. What to eat, how much do I eat, when do I eat, aerobic, anaerobic, weights, supplements, and so on. If all that can seem confusing, then look at this practical list of some of the most basic strategies you can start using today.

Of course, it’s important to reduce your calories each day, but when should you eat? First, make sure that you eat right after waking up. This revs up your metabolism for the day. Then eat every two to three hours, to maintain a steady, active metabolism.

So how many calories should you consume in any given day? I like to say to eat about as many calories equal to your target bodyweight, times ten. So, let’s say that you weight 210 pounds, and you wanted to lose 30 pounds. That means your target calories should be around 1,800. However, don’t go below 1500 calories, regardless of your target weight. You just can’t get proper nutrition with so few calories.

Exercise, though secondary to dieting, is crucial for fat loss. If you’re dieting, but not exercising, you’re likely to lose muscle along with fat, so you can never get that toned look. Exercise preserves muscle, as well as improves your overall fitness.

Here’s something a bit unusual. Replace one of your snacks or meals with a handful of almonds, and that’s it. Almonds have been called a powerfood, and have a ton of good fat and protein.

How about replacing one of your snacks or meals with a bowl of high-fiber cereal. I’m not talking about breakfast, I’m talking about a snack or even lunch. My favorite is Frosted Mini-Wheats.

This one is important for fat-loss. There is no reason to drink anything other than water and low-fat milk. Fruit juices, even freshly squeezed, have tons of calories. Diet drinks, while calorie-free, may actually increase your appetite. I know you’ve already given up regular soda and alcohol.

Protein is good, protein is great. Make sure it’s is in every meal. This fills you up and limits the amount of carbs you take in. With the extra protein, make sure you’re drinking lots and lots of water to offset the extra work your kidneys will be doing.

This one’s super easy. Get the junk food out of the house. Chips, crackers, and desserts are nothing but poison. You’re simply more likely to eat it if it’s in the house, so get rid of it. If you have others in the house that won’t stop buying it, have them keep it in their room, away from the kitchen.

Most of your carbohydrates should be eaten before dinner. That way, when you’re moving around for the day, your body burns up the carbohydrates. If you eat a lot of carbohydrates in the evening, it gets stored as fat because you’re sleeping and not moving around. It’s as simple as that.

These are just some of the ways to help promote your fat loss. I try to follow all of these (and then some). Of course, take whatever tips that best suit you, and never give up on your goals. Remember, if you want to lose 30 pounds, you have to start with the basics.

I don’t usually do this, but since I’m always reading about weight loss from various sources, I thought I’d share some specific articles that I’ve found.  Each of these impressed me enough to recommend them, so take to heart what you get out of them.  Enjoy!

The Best Weight Loss Diet – Lose Weight Without Starving Or Giving Up Your Favorite Foods! – Some very simple, yet effective ways to cut calories from your diet.

Some Weight Loss Tips - good for losing those last few pounds.

Easy Weight Loss Tips - even more tips for losing pounds.

Fitness Tips - This page has a tone of usful articles and tips on getting fit, I highly recommend it.

Remember, there are a lot of different ways one can lose weight.  Some of them work better than others, and some might not work at all.  What’s important to remember is that everything you read on weight loss is a tool.  put those tools into your toolbox and use only the tools you want.

First off, let me tell you this: I love P90X. I thinks it’s great if you want to lose 30 pounds, or any weight, for that matter. It has an all-around, excellent approach to weight loss and physical fitness. I especially love the chest and back workout – I think it kicks ass. And Plyometrics? Whew! That’ll empty your gas tank real fast.

Minimal equipment is required. I have a set of 25 lbs. dumb bells and a pull-up bar. It’s the kind of pull-up bar that is easy to set up and take down (actually, I just usually leave it up). What’s even better is that it isn’t screwed into the door frame; it simply fits snugly against it. That’s it – no more equipment.

And the diet plan is awesome. It spells out how much you should be eating at any specific point in the program. The menus focus on delicious, practical dishes, many of which can be whipped up quickly and easily. It’s all about portion control, and tells you what equals what kind of portion size, and what qualifies as a helathy portion.

So what’s the deal? Why does it bother me? Easy. Even though I know that fat loss comes mostly from a reduced calorie/better choices diet, with a good exercise plan to back it up, I can sometimes still fall for the hype. I’ve seen all of the these commercials for P90X – about how it’s hard work, and hard work pays off, and all these exercise that can be done at home, exercises with minimal equipment, with the cool-looking models that all seem pretty fit, or these actual P90Xers performing the seemingly easy-to-perform moves. Oh, and a quick mention of their diet plan.

There it is, the diet plan. Well, when it comes to willpower and food, I have very little – willpower, that is. I wanted to lose 30 pounds, so I ordered the set (over $100), got the box, opened it up, and what’s the first thing I realize with this program? Yeah, I have to stick to their diet plan to see any real results.  They even tell you that in their pamphlets.  You can work out as much as you want, as hard as you want, but you’re gonna have to buckle up and eat X amount of food every day.

Oops, I, did it again, I fell for the hype, got lost in the game…

So there you have it.  If you want to lose 30 pounds and get a ripped bod using P90X, you’re gonna have to work twice as hard due to the strict diet.  If you’re thinking of going that route, just remember that the exercise alone is not going to get you there, even though you might think that from watching their commercial.