Being 20 pounds overweight is enough to add enough pressure to overwork the neck and back muscles. Over time, this extra pressure on the body may cause muscle spasms, fatigue and nasty tension headaches. So, if you have been putting off trying to lose that extra 20 pounds, you have good reason to begin today to shed it. Here are a few tips that will help you to get on track, so that you can begin losing the extra weight.

Getting enough sleep every night is actually very important when losing weight. A lack of sleep brings about irritability, an inability to focus and most importantly, a lack of energy. Fatigue brings about both a reduction of physical activity and an increase in behaviors, like overeating, which lead to weight gain.

A great way to lose weight is to cut down on all the fat-laden condiments you use. Eliminating butter from your diet is a start. Many salad dressings are also very high in fat. It’s always best to opt for low-fat, non-fat or sugar-free condiments.

Avoid all fried foods! All fried foods contain calories derived from the oil in which they were made. This adds needless calories to your diet along with no extra nutrients. French fries, for example, contain more calories from the oil they were made in than the potatoes they actually are.

A great way to help you lose weight is to invest in a video game system that promotes fitness such as the Nintendo Wii. If you have some friends over and play on the Wii Fit, you’ll have a blast and you’ll burn quite a few calories.

A really useful tip to help you lose weight is to eat before going to the movie theater or to bring a healthy snack with you. Movie theaters are notorious for their unhealthy popcorn and all the candy that’s readily available. By bringing your own snack, you won’t give in to temptation.

A great way to help you lose weight is to subscribe to a fitness magazine. Fitness magazines are filled with information regarding diets, workout programs, and general fitness advice. Magazines like these can be a great investment if you have the money.

If you want to lose weight set realistic goals. If you set more realistic goals you will be more likely to stick to them. If you tell yourself you are only going to eat celery every day, it’s not likely you will stick to that and you’ll be right back where you started.

Getting enough rest and relaxation is, surprisingly, very helpful when trying to lose weight. A common reaction among people when they are stressed is to eat or drink more–it can give a sense of well-being or a “reward” for accomplishing tasks. Getting enough rest and doing something enjoyable to relax can be substituted as a reward. It is more satisfying in the long run than eating something and it’s fat free!

Sign up with an online community that focuses on weight loss. Not only will you get valuable information, but you will be in a support group that will keep you motivated in your endeavor. This is also a good support system for people who are too self-conscious to join a group in person.

Losing weight can sometimes, be grueling and difficult. It takes a lot of willpower and stamina to reach your goal. Try not to get discouraged if you cheat on your diet or skip a day of exercise. Even people in the profession of weight loss have days that they blunder. Tomorrow is a new day, as well as, a new opportunity to try again.