Here's how to get started on the path to weight-loss success:

Weight Loss |
Get physical: Exercise keeps off the weight. “Research shows that people who increase physical activity along with reducing calorie intake will lose more body fat than people who only diet,” says McLaughlin. For confirmation, look at the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), a database of 4,000 men and women who have lost 30 or more pounds and kept it off. Only 9 percent reached and maintained their weight loss goal without exercise. Most people in the register chose walking as their form of exercise.

Eat breakfast: The most effective diabetes diet includes breakfast. Skipping breakfast can lead to overeating later in the day when you become ravenous. This can sabotage weight-loss plans and cause blood sugar levels to surge. Studies show that eating breakfast, especially if it’s cereal, is associated with better weight loss. A common characteristic among the NWCR participants is that most of them ate breakfast.