5 Rules You Need to Follow if You Decide to Lose Weight  

This article was written by Lizzie Fuhr and repurposed with permission from POPSUGAR Fitness.

You know that the all-or-nothing mentality can actually make it tougher for your to lose weight and keep it off. But if you're serious about slimming down, sticking to these five guidelines will help you reach your goal. 

1. Always Eat Breakfast
Skipping any meal is a big mistake, says nutritionist Cynthia Sass. And enjoying a hearty and nutritious meal in the morning, if you normally eat breakfast anyway, can actually jump-start your metabolism and encourage pounds to drop. Choose a breakfast that's high in protein and fiber to keep you full and give you energy for hours.

RELATED: 1 Week Down, 1 Pound Gone

2. You Have to Make a Change to See a Change
In order to encourage a change in your weight, you need to make healthier lifestyle changes that include eating nutritious, balanced meals most of the time, with the occasional splurge. That's the principle behind the 80/20 rule. Jessica Alba's trainer Yumi Lee says, "You can't be 100 percent all of the time, but you can be 80 percent all of the time."

RELATED: Steer Clear of These 25 Weight-Loss Mistakes

3. Once the Weight Is Gone, You Can't Go Back to Your Old Ways
If you used to guzzle a can of Coke with your lunch but switched to seltzer, don't go back to your soda habit now that the weight is off. Losing weight is a forever lifestyle change, not something you do until you reach your goal. Once you go back to old eating habits the weight will creep back on.

For two more rules that will help you lose weight, head to POPSUGAR Fitness.

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