"My cousin's wedding is only a fortnight away! Oh no! Look at my waist. My relatives will start to wag their tongues about my weight. Oh dear, better start racking my brains for some reasons to skip this event."

Does the above scenario sound familiar? Well, it happens very often, in fact, to many. But do not go popping pills recklessly as if it is some enjoyable snacks. Such actions are dangerous!

Here are some better ways to lose weight safely and progressively.

Your Lifestyle - Change It! The key to losing weight lies in changing your lifestyle. It is very crucial for every individual who wishes to lose weight to come out from his or her comfort zone. As the old saying goes "No Pain, No Gain!" So if you want to lose those excessive pounds, mental preparation and changes are essential. It is also important to make this change a permanent one so that you keep those pounds off for good. If you have been binge eating, try controlling your eating habit by taking 6 small meals a day of healthy, high fibre, low GI food.

Exercising is the best way to lose weight. The more you exercise, the more calories you will burn. You can spend three thousand dollars on a slimming programme only to cut down a modest 2-3 pounds. In contrast, just by jogging 2-3 times a week, you can burn off MUCH more calories and lose more weight. Climb the stairs - Climbing stairs burns the calories. So remember whenever you see the elevator, say no!

Drink Water - Many grew up cultivating a bad habit of not drinking enough water. However, do you know that a constant supply of water is needed to replenish the fluids lost through normal physiological activities such as respiration or urination? Furthermore, water removes the impurities in your digestive system, hence unwanted residues can be cleared easily. Drinking water before meals also makes you feel "full" and prevents you from gorging.

Good Nutrition - Various fruits and vegetables provide the necessary vitamins for our body to run smoothly. An example of a good nutrition source will be an apple. Take more fresh fruits and vegetables to keep your body functioning at a tip-top condition for maximum weight loss. You can even supplement with a multi-vitamin just to ensure you get enough vitamins and minerals in your diet.

Sleep More - Sleeping helps to rejuvenate and repair your body. On average, you should sleep 8-10 hours per day. A lack of sleep will often result in an increment on stress level, which adversely impacts weight loss.

Detox Diet - Detoxification is a good tool you can use to magnify the results of your weight loss programme. As we consume food daily, "toxic" wastes are stored in our body. Such unhealthy substances actually hinder our weight loss goal by "blocking" the necessary nutrients from our body. Therefore it is necessary to clear such unwanted substances away, once every month, in order for our body to operate smoothly.

Set your goals right - Set realistic goals. Aim for a maximum weight loss of two pounds (about 1kg) every week. Although we all like to see the pounds dropping off instantly, patience is the key to permanent and effective weight loss. Never push your body too hard, if not, you may give up after a week of starvation or adverse results may occur.

Ok! That's all for today, folks! Remember that practice gives you better results. As long as you persevere and monitor your performance, you should be on your road to victory for a flatter tummy and a healthier body very soon!