Most people would want to have that perfect figure. That is why many people are determined to lose that excess weight. Not only does it make you feel and look good, but cutting down the excess fat is also good for your health. Losing weight is not as hard as it seems. It is not a mysterious process either. You just need to understand that it is just a matter of how much calories you are taking in and at the same time, how much of it do you effectively burn. Understanding these basic processes is essential for a healthy and effective weight loss.

Because we are living in a fast phase world, people have been so busy and would always want those instant remedies. That includes losing weight. But the fact is, it is not instant, unless you count surgeries and advance treatments such as liposuction and gastric banding. Though the market offers you instant weight loss pills, medicines and other commercial products, they most likely are ineffective and would probably cause various unwanted side effects. Losing weight the healthy and effective way takes time.

To lose a pound of your weight, you need to cut 3500 calories from your system. It is not a 1 day process though. You may do it gradually and step by step. Trim down those extra calories by modifying your activities and daily food intake.

You need to know first what your basal metabolic rate is. It is basically the amount of energy your body needed for vital function. It is energy that you need during your post-absorptive state or when your digestive system is inactive. This is the minimum amount of calories you need to take everyday. Just remember that the calculator is not always 100% accurate. As you progress from your weight loss diet or program, you need to make the necessary adjustments and adapt your body into it.

Second, know your activities, from the food you eat and the physical activities you are doing. You may need a calorie calculator for you to be able to know how much calories you burn while standing, sitting, lifting weights and exercising each day. You can also use a heart rate monitor which calculates how much calories you have burned. This is basically a journal of your daily calorie intake and output.

For your calorie intake, take note of the food you eat. And I mean in details - the food, its quantity and how much calories it contains. It is not hard to know how much calories you take these days. There are so many websites today that shows calorie count of different kinds of food. In this way, you will be aware how much calories you are feeding in to your body. Is it enough, lacking or in excess?

>From these data, you now may be able to calculate your basal metabolic rate. Add your calorie activity and then deduct it from your food calories. Input minus the output. If you are eating more calories than you are burning, you will probably gain weight. And of course, if your output is greater than your input, then you lose weight.

Do you need exercise? If yes, how much exercise is needed? Exercise is one of the most important activities in losing weight, but the amount of exercise a person must have, depends on the person's physical attribute and experience. If you are just a beginner, it is better for you to start small. Exercise 3 days per week for 20 to 40 minutes for your body to have time to adjust. But if you are already used to training and exercise, you can exercise everyday for 1 to 2 hours.