"I need to lose weight!". This the cry of over millions of people in this world. It is not an easy task, and will take some work, but where there is a will there certainly is a way. Here is a plan that worked for me and had me lose over 100 pounds.

First of all you must understand your body. Each of our bodies are different, but there is one element of our body's makeup that is the same in everyone: our digestive system. The digestive system is the key to understanding our energy ups and downs. It is pretty simple, we do not digest different types of foods the same way. Carbohydrates take more energy to digest than proteins. This is why if you eat a nice chicken salad with no carbs in it, you feel more energetic than if you eat that cheeseburger. You want to maximize your energy, which will in turn help your motivation to exercise. Yes folks, you have to exercise to reach your goals...Sorry to disappoint but there is no magic pill that you can just take and sit on your but all day and expect to lose weight.

So you probably are wondering how I lost all that weight? Well it is pretty simple. It will take some food habit adjustment, but once your body gets acclimated you will find a new energy and will actually want to take that walk, or go to the gym.

Here it is, plain and simple:

Do Your Workout in the Morning

I know this part seems impossible. A lot of us lead busy lives and find it hard enough to get up and walk to the shower in the morning, let alone work out. I am not asking you to workout for hours on end; but a 20 minute walk outside or on the treadmill will get your body started right. You may lag in the beginning of the workout, but your energy will build up pretty quickly and you will feel better as the workout progresses. Once you start to follow the eating plan I have laid out, you will find yourself anxious to get up in the morning and work out. Morning workouts are great for the mind and body. Your metabolism will get a jolt, and you can go through your busy day mentally already knowing you worked out in the morning. Just note, that if you are going to add weight lifting to your routine, lift the weights first and then go for the walk. It will increase your fat burning rate if you do it in that order.

OK Now that we got the tough part out of the way, here is what I suggest for changing your eating habits:

Breakfast

Fruits, fruits, fruits! Nothing but them until Noon. When I say fruits, I mean the watery kinds like apples, oranges, pineapples, grapefruits, grapes, etc... No need to overeat them, just eat them until you feel full. I like to start the day off with a grapefruit and then bring some grapes to work that I can pick at if I feel hungry again later in the morning. What this does for you is it allows your energy to continue at a high level because fruits don't take a lot of blood churn to digest so you won't feel tired. Remember DO NOT OVEREAT THE FRUIT..Let your mind and body tell you when you are filled up.

Lunch and Dinner

O.K. here is the fun part. They are both the same with some caveats. Do not eat proteins and carbohydrates together, drink water throughout the day, and have a salad with each meal. What happens when you mix your carbs and proteins is that your body works overtime to digest that mix and your energy level drops. Keep in mind, you have worked out already in the morning, but if your energy level stays high throughout the day you will find yourself moving around more and burning even more calories! Once again don't overeat, the salad and water throughout the day should keep you fulfilled. For instance, at lunch have a salad with light dressing and a baked potato. Or even better, and believe me this is fine, go get some McDonald's fries and a garden salad. It works just the same. For dinner have a chicken breast and a salad. Just remember not to combine carbs and proteins in the same meal. Your body will thank you for that.

Hopefully this helps. It may sound simple on the surface, and it actually is, but it is up to each individual to stick to it and remember to work out! Oh and it shouldn't kill your budget either.