I want and need to lose 60 pounds. How can I do this healthily?

Hi Cricket,

Let me give you three keys to remember when you check out your options:

1. Don't quick fixes don't work. To lose weight, be healthy, and keep the weight off, shoot for losing 1-2 pounds per week. That means 60 pounds will most likely take at least 7 months to lose (but think of where you'd be today if you had started last December!).

2. Don't think "diet". Diet implies short term and if you want to lose weight and keep it off you need to make long term, permanent changes. It is best to approach this one step at a time, such as make the switch from 2% to 1% milk. Once you have that down pat, work on changing your evening snack to a healthier choice, on down the list of switching an unhealthy choice with a healthier option. If you try to tackle everything at once, you set yourself up for failure.

3. Don't forget activity. Weight loss and physical activity go hand-in-hand. If you are not currently active, check with you MD before jumping into an exercise program. Walking is usually a safe and inexpensive option.

I wish you the best of luck.  You can do it!  I do offer a 9 week weight loss program (Balance Program), but there are many good options out there.  Weight Watchers is a familiar and effective program.

All the best,

Lisa Nelson, RD, LN

Lose Weight