Monica Jimenez, a nutritional counselor for Lifelong Chiropractors in Myrtle Beach, S.C., stresses the importance of eating a balanced diet and exercising. Dieting by itself is not the most effective way to lose weight.
"Eating foods without labels on them is the best thing I can recommend for someone who's trying to lose weight. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats like chicken or fish," she said.
Although everyone's caloric needs differ, a person who is trying to lose weight should try to cut out some calories without depriving the body of the energy and nutrients it needs.
"Realize that if you're exercising, you're going to be burning more calories and your body will need more energy," she said.
Exercising is important because it builds muscle tissue, which keeps your metabolism high.
"What happens when people diet, is that they lose muscle. They're usually restricting the body of calories and not exercising, so the body feeds off of muscle because it's a more attractive energy source."
She explains that this can ultimately lower your metabolism because muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue does, even when it's not doing anything.
"Muscle mass dictates your metabolism," she says. "The more muscles you have, the more calories you're burning."
For a person trying to lose weight, she recommends talking with a trainer to design a fitness program that includes cardiovascular activities and muscle building.
"Eating foods without labels on them is the best thing I can recommend for someone who's trying to lose weight. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats like chicken or fish," she said.
Although everyone's caloric needs differ, a person who is trying to lose weight should try to cut out some calories without depriving the body of the energy and nutrients it needs.
"Realize that if you're exercising, you're going to be burning more calories and your body will need more energy," she said.
Exercising is important because it builds muscle tissue, which keeps your metabolism high.
"What happens when people diet, is that they lose muscle. They're usually restricting the body of calories and not exercising, so the body feeds off of muscle because it's a more attractive energy source."
She explains that this can ultimately lower your metabolism because muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue does, even when it's not doing anything.
"Muscle mass dictates your metabolism," she says. "The more muscles you have, the more calories you're burning."
For a person trying to lose weight, she recommends talking with a trainer to design a fitness program that includes cardiovascular activities and muscle building.