The next time someone tells you (hopefully in jest) to go take a hike, you should take them up on it. Why? For one thing, hiking is a fun and easy way to burn calories for weight loss and/or to get in shape. As well, you can enjoy some much-needed time outdoors when hiking. The change of scenery, combined with the beauty of nature and some fresh air, helps lift your mood while you're losing weight.

When thinking of easy ways to eat healthy and/or how to lose weight fast, many people mistakenly believe eating fat-free foods is going to help them. However, this is a potentially dangerous myth. Removing most or all the fats from your diet in order to lose weight simply doesn't work. In fact, eating fat-free foods may actually cause you to gain weight. As well, these foods turn out to be rather unhealthy. Let's debunk this myth and look at the reasons why eating fat-free foods isn't a very good idea for weight loss, or at all.

It's almost Valentine's Day - are you ready? For many of us, it's a fun holiday where we take time to show our loved ones how much they mean to us. We buy cards, gifts, balloons, flowers, and so on for our sweeties. Unfortunately, the day is also popular for its romantic gifts of chocolates and other sweet treats, which are big "no-no's" when you're trying to lose weight. If you are working hard to stay on track with your weight-loss program, it may help to focus on the heart-shaped symbol, which represents Valentine's Day. This symbol of love and affection can also help remind us of how important it is to take care of our own heart health through diet and exercise. We all hope to continue celebrating Valentine's for many years to come, right? Thinking this way should help you stick to your weight loss routine, even when you're tempted by all those unhealthy treats.

A regular exercise routine is an essential part of your weight loss plan and helps you to look and feel your best. You want to make sure to include core exercises within your routine while you are losing weight. Your core muscles are the ones around your trunk and pelvis, including your abs. Ab exercises are perfect for burning fat and strengthening your core, along with flattening your belly. A flatter belly is a great goal to work towards for both your appearance and your health.