Healthy eating and exercise can help you lose weight and maintain weight, too. Being healthy requires a two-prong approach, and when you leave healthy food or exercise off of the schedule, you’re simply not going to be as healthy as you “think you are.”

When trying to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume.

It’s pure mathematics, and if you eat more calories than you consume, you can be sure that you’ll gain weight.

Let’s take a look at a few exercise and eating tips that can help you lose or maintain your weight while being the healthiest you possible.
1. Start With a Good Breakfast
Are you the type of person that wakes up, grabs a coffee, and runs off to work? Breakfast is one of the most essential meals of the day, but many people have a way of brushing it off. Regularly eating breakfast has been shown to:

• Lower risk of heart disease
• Replenish blood sugar
• Combat diabetes
• Lower risk of obesity

Aim for something with less sugar, such as:

• Whole-grains
• Oatmeal
• Oat bran

And don’t be afraid to throw in some yogurt and chopped nuts to make your meal a little more balanced in the protein department. Cottage cheese, whole-grain pancakes, toast and even eggs are a great way to start the day.
2. Consume Enough Carbohydrates
“But, carbs are bad and lead to fat!”

Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy, and if you’re spending hours on your, cross trainer you’ll need carbs to help replenish your energy levels.

Complex carbs are recommended, and include:

• Fruits
• Veggies
• Beans
• Whole grains

Ideally, 45% - 60% of your daily calories will come from carbohydrates. You can alter these ratios if you’re following a macronutrient diet, but don’t go much lower than 40% carbs.
3. Exercise Daily Even If It’s a Short Duration
I’m the type of person that has a tendency to think the week is wasted if I didn’t start exercising on Monday. But the truth is that people should be engaging in some form of exercise daily. This doesn’t mean you should work your chest seven days a week – you do need 48 hours for recovery, so your muscles can grow.

But just because you can’t spend an hour at the gym doesn’t mean you can’t still get in some exercise.

Exercise is essential to your health. Not only will you burn excess calories (essential for losing weight), but you’ll also:

• Maintain muscle tone and strength
• Combat heart diseases and diabetes
• Boost serotonin in the body
• Relieve stress and anxiety

And there is no excuse not to get a workout in even if you don’t go to the gym. Walk around the neighborhood, do pushups, or invest in a elliptical crosstrainer machine so that you can workout in the comfort of your home.
4. Fuel Your Body for a Workout
Do you feel like you run out of steam during your workout? Of course you do. You need to be able to exert yourself with the utmost intensity and highest energy level to be able to enjoy the full benefits of a workout.

And the right fuel will help immensely. These foods can put you on the right track to an energy-filled workout:

• Bananas
• Nuts
• Nut butter
• Berries
• Oranges
• Grapes

Don’t dare reach for that coffee or sugary drink – it will make you crash. Healthy foods that do not provide an immediate sugar rush that is short-lived work the best.