Losing weight is never an easy process because it often means cutting back on the food that we enjoy the most and finding the time to be more active in our already busy schedules. Once you have made the conscious decision to lose weight it needs to be swiftly followed up by a plan of action or a weight loss program. They say that failing to plan is planning to fail, if you don't plan out exactly how you will lose weight then chances are it will never happen because you have got nothing to stick to.

A healthy weight loss program is one that involves a balanced diet that contains plenty of fruit and veg and is low in saturated fats (anything that is fried) and refined sugar (sweets, cakes, soft drinks), an exercise regime (even 30 minutes of walking per day is suitable if you are just starting out) and a support network of other people who also want to lose weight.

However, you should avoid a weight loss program that encourages you to take a severely restricted calorie intake or recommends high levels of exercise to 'burn the fat', especially if you are not in a great shape to begin with. It is nearly always best to consult your physician before undertaking a weight loss program and discussing with them the benefits and drawbacks of what you plan to do – they might even ask you to limit the amount of exercise you do when you first start out.

When planning your healthy weight loss diet program there are many options you can choose from such as a low fat diet, a high protein diet, a fixed menu diet or a points based diet. Since everyone is different, it's very difficult to say which diet is the best for you. A low fat diet works very well, but can cause problems for people who are extremely overweight, similarly a high protein diet can put your body under stress because you are not eating enough carbs, fixed menu diets can be very easy to follow but are often uninspiring and definitely not suitable for someone who likes to socialize a lot and a points based program involves lots of deliberation in the supermarket and restaurants on what you can and can't buy to eat.

There are many weight loss clubs and organizations such as Weight Watchers who will help you build a unique weight loss program and provide you with the support and encouragement required to see it through. The regular meetings and 'weigh ins' help provide that extra motivation and some people excel when they have specific targets to meet.

Obviously some people prefer a more private weight loss program and using the Internet and plethora of books and guides available it's very easy to construct your own diet plan, exercise plan and even create an online journal or post in a forum under a pseudonym to receive support and encouragement from others.