How to Lose 100 Pounds

If you need to lose a significant amount of weight, it's important to have a solid plan for doing it—and one that will not harm your health. Learning how to lose weight safely should be a priority as you decide on the best approach for taking off those pounds. For obese individuals, it may not be out of the question to set a goal of losing 100 pounds. Regardless of whether you follow a diet or opt for a medical procedure like gastric band surgery, you will need a fully-formed idea of how you will accomplish this goal and how to do it safely.

While 100 pounds may sound like a lot, if you choose to have gastric band surgery, losing this much weight is certainly possible. The procedure is coupled with a healthy eating program and exercise for an approach that addresses weight loss on multiple levels. Most people experience immediate results and continue to lose weight as long as they follow the program closely. This is a sharp contrast to those who try "fad diets" and lose ten or twenty pounds, only to put them right back on again.

One of the key elements of the Slimband program is central to any smart weight loss plan: support. You'll most likely feel discouraged from time to time, and having people to turn to can make all the difference in the world. What's even better is having a support network made up of other people who have also gone through the same bariatric surgery. Losing 100 pounds safely takes time, and your fellow "bandsters" understand the challenges involved and can help get you through the rough patches.

There's another element of the process you're responsible for, and that's patience. Your body will be changing, which means that your weight might not always be the most accurate way to gauge improvements to your health; as you build muscle and lose fat, you're likely to change shape without losing pounds. But don't worry—as you add muscle, you'll be burning more calories overall. It's a good idea to take measurements periodically, as this will help you see the difference in your body, even if you can't see it on the scale.

You'll also need to find sources of motivation to help you stick to your post-surgery weight loss plan. Try compiling a list of all the health conditions that obesity puts you at risk for and print it out to remind yourself of what you're working to avoid. Also, work with your healthcare provider to measure your blood pressure and cholesterol so that you can keep tabs on your health as you go. This is especially important if you suffer from type 2 diabetes. If you can begin to see some real improvement in your health, you're more likely to stay motivated to keep losing weight.

If you need an additional source of motivation, take a look at all of the Slimband success stories and see for yourself how much weight you can lose with the proper support.