Many people who have excess pounds to lose often resort to weight loss supplements. They think that popping some pills in the mouth is all that's needed to turn their dream figure into a reality. While some of these products may yield results, it can be impractical to take them forever, especially those that come with side effects and steep price tags.

Because of this, it's possible to end up heavier than when you started taking those kinds of supplements. In order to slim down, you really don't have to buy any of those products. You only need two things to ensure you can lose unwanted pounds safely, effectively and with long-term effects: regular exercise and proper diet.

Let's start with the exercise part. This is essential because it's an effective way to expend those unnecessary calories from the food or beverages you consume. It is said that 3,500 unused calories gets stored as a pound of fat. Exercising regularly helps prevent that from happening. According to experts, one should exercise for 20 to 60 minutes, at least thrice a week.

Some people have a hard time sticking to a regular exercise routine because they find it hard to hit the gym religiously. Although a gym subscription won't hurt, it's possible to have an effective regimen even at home. The best for burning unwanted calories are cardiovascular ones such as brisk walking, swimming, bicycling, playing badminton and others.

To keep yourself interested, choose those that you find fun to do. It will help keep you motivated if you have an exercise buddy who also has the same goals as yours. You may also break up your routines into shorter sessions per day and will still get results. For encouragement and support, tell your family and friends about your aim.

Now let's go to the other crucial part, which is proper diet. First and foremost, avoid going for those fad diets. Mostly they restrict your intake of food, and it's not going to work to your advantage because such only slows down your metabolism. Because of this, it will only be harder to eliminate those pounds you wish to get rid of.

Most of the things you have to avoid are sold at fast food chains - items that are laden with sodium, fats and unhealthy oil. It's best if you spend time preparing your own healthy meals so you know exactly what goes into your mouth. Basically, you just have to focus on fruits and vegetables. Avoid anything that comes processed or with tons of fat content.

Remove any visible fat from meat. If you're having chicken, ditch the skin as that's where most of the fat is. It's also important to pay attention to how you cook your food. Go for healthy ways such as grilling, baking, poaching and others that don't require you to add unhealthy oil. When you like to enjoy a cheat day, the key is moderation.

Regular exercise and proper diet go hand in hand if you wish to enjoy long-term weight loss. Without the other, it can be a tricky task to pull off. It will also help a lot if you focus on being fit rather that being thin. There's no other way to reach this goal than through some safe and effective steps that have worked for many who also struggled with the same issue.