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Most diets fail because they are designed to work only in the short-term, which is not the best way to loose weight. Usually, this makes people eat even more when the diet is over and they are again free to choose their old unhealthy favorites. The best way to loose weight is to work on making permanent changes to your routine that will improve your overall fitness level. Over time, building muscle and developing healthy eating habits will raise your body's metabolism so you burn more calories. This will improve the results of your exercise program, along with burning fat while you are not even working out.

There are two ways to increase your body's metabolism: Increase physical activity and eat smaller meals throughout the day. Both of these will require a bit of a lifestyle adjustment, but they can be done long-term if worked in gradually as a part of living a healthier life. It is not that hard to find ways to sneak in a bit of exercise, even with today's busy schedules. Simply taking the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator is an easy way to get your heart pumping a few times per day. While at work, you are still allowed to take a short break at least twice each day, so take a stroll around your office building to burn a few extra calories.

Eating smaller meals can be enjoyable if you make those meals delicious and filling. After all, who wouldn't want to eat six times a day instead of only three? Giving your body smaller meals to process more frequently throughout the day keeps the digestive system active and prevents an excess of calories from building up. When your body senses that it has taken in more than it is expending, it will begin to convert those excess calories to fat as a reserve for times when food is scarce. Eating three large meals actually puts your body into a feast-famine cycle causing your metabolism to increase and slow back down several times a day.

These small "meals" do not have to be full meals at all. There are a number of healthy snacks you can keep on hand to give you a boost of a few hundred calories. Dividing your existing portions into several meals is also a good way to keep eating a steady flow of calories throughout the day. For example, a half of a tuna sandwich and a piece of fruit is around 400 calories, the perfect size for a quick midday snack.

Remember that living an overall healthier lifestyle allows you to add in some "forbidden" foods in moderation. Since you are not on an extreme crash diet, there are no foods that are completely off-limits. Treat yourself for making healthy choices by throwing in a piece of premium chocolate candy during one of your snack breaks. You will get 100 calories toward your snack, along with a little bit of fat, dairy, and protein that may not be present in the healthier options on your menu. Allowing yourself some leeway to enjoy your favorite foods is the best way to loose weight and keep it off in the long run.