10 Ways to lose 9 pounds

1. Do it gradually.

Many weight-loss programs claim they can help you lose weight fast, like 15 pounds in 2 weeks. Or you may have heard people on infomercials saying they lost 20 pounds in under a month. Don't let these numbers pressure you. People who lose weight quickly usually regain that weight in no time, sometimes they even gain more.

Extremely fast weight loss is due to the loss of water and muscle in the body, instead of fat. When you lose muscle mass, you slow down your metabolism and this is actually a cause for weight gain in the future.

The best way to shed your unwanted pounds is to do it gradually. You should not lose more than 4 pounds a week.

2. Set Realistic Objectives.

Aim for something that you know you can achieve. If you're a busy person planning to start walking everyday, start with a sensible 10 minutes a day and then work up from there. The same thing goes for reducing your calories. Adjust your diet gradually. Don't assume you can give your diet a complete overhaul overnight. Setting an unrealistic objective is just setting yourself up for failure and disappointment.

3. Aim for a healthy lifestyle.

Instead of targeting to reduce your dress size by a couple of numbers, aim to improve your health habits. Many successful dieters are more focused on having healthy lifestyle than on being thin. Weight loss comes naturally if you are eating healthy food. So change your perspective and do not obsess with getting thin, but focus on keeping your body healthy. For the ideal amounts and types of food intakes, refer to the Food Pyramid.

4. Stop weighing yourself.

Getting on the scale every day will only cause you to be obsessed with your weight. Some people quit working out because when they weigh themselves, they see that they have actually gained a pound or two. This happens because in the early part of your training program, your muscles are actually growing, which causes the weight increase. Although you are gaining weight, you are actually getting thinner. And if you keep on working out, the weight loss will eventually follow, due to better metabolism.

5. Take your time when eating.

It's been said that slow eaters never get fat. This is not always the case but generally, eating more slowly will keep you from packing on unwanted fat. This is due to the lag time between being actually full and feeling full. Once your stomach is full, it takes 20 minutes for the brain to realize it and by then, fast eaters have consumed a lot more calories than they need. So slow down your eating pace. Take smaller bites, chew your food leisurely and enjoy the experience of eating.

6. Eat in small portions.

When eating at home, measure your food portions precisely so you don't go over the daily limit. Since you can't do this at a restaurant, just select smaller servings so you don't overeat. If the servings are all "supersize", eat half of the food and ask for a bag for the other half. Also, don't eat until you are stuffed. When you're feel you're full, then stop eating.

7. Fat-free does not mean calorie-free.

Next time you go shopping for food, don't be fooled by products labeled low-fat or fat-free. Sure, these are better than their regular counterparts, but they still contain calories and that will still make you gain weight. In fact, some fat-free products have the same amount of calories as the regular ones. Just because a product is fat-free doesn't mean you have the license to eat as much of it as you like. If you want to lose 9 pounds, you may have fat-free products, but in carefully measured amounts.

8. Hydrate yourself.

Water is essential, especially if you want to lose weight. Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses everyday. You can also try tea, especially green tea or nettle tea, because this will help boost your metabolism, and it is also a great diuretic.

9. Get support.

You don't have to go through your weight loss program on your own. It is helpful if you have friends and family to give you moral support. Better yet, you can invite a friend to join you in your program and you can lose weight together. You can also join a group program like eDiets or Weight Watchers. Getting encouragement from fellow dieters will give you more motivation.

10. Keep motivated.

Motivation also comes from rewarding yourself. Whenever you reach a goal, such as to lose 9 pounds, take the time out for a massage or buy yourself a new outfit for showing off your new physique.