The threat of dying early from eating too much is only all too real. The more food you take in-- more than the actual energy you spend for your daily activities-- the higher your chances of being overweight or obese and suffer from heart-related ailments because of it. This is why those whose body mass indexes indicate that they are already in the overweight or obese category should begin a weight loss program today.

However, a weight loss plan is not simply a matter of exercising and eating healthy, although these are its main components. There are factors in a weight loss plan that are often forgotten but are equally important to help you attain a healthy weight.

The first component in your plan should be drinking of water before every meal. Water has the two-fold function of curbing your appetite and hastening your metabolism. When you drink water before taking solid food, you will naturally consume less food. You will also experience the benefits of a faster metabolism since your body will have to use up more energy to turn the water to the temperature your body can use. Besides, when you constantly keep yourself hydrated, your body will now be able to differentiate when it is truly hungry or when it is just thirsty. More often than not, many individuals eat when a glass of water would suffice, thus adding to their total caloric intake.

The next component in your weight loss plan should be a fun and sustainable exercise program. Those on the road to losing excess fat often have the mistaken notion that it has to be a serious endeavor. This makes them engage in workout regimens that are boring and ultimately unsustainable for the long term. Choose an activity that you love to do-- maybe a sport that you love or an exercise activity that you can do with family or friends. Also, it should be within your schedule to actually accomplish. If you have family and career responsibilities, then regular gym hours might not be appropriate. Consider working out at home if this is the only way to fit exercise into your hectic workday.

You should also desire with all your heart to actually lose weight. The motivation to do something is absolutely essential in any of your weight loss efforts. When you find yourself jumping from one fat loss program to the next without any significant results, take a long hard look at yourself and ask if you really want to lose weight. You might be surprised to find out that you don't really want to lose weight. Perhaps you simply like looking chubby-- who knows? That is your call. But the bottom line is: If you want to lose weight, you actually have to desire it with all your heart. No matter what your motivation is-- whether it is for aesthetic or health purposes--you can only be successful if you truly want to be.

Any weight loss plan must contain all these efforts to be successful. Without them, any efforts at exercise or diet will count for naught.