Losing weight, getting closer to your ideal figure and maintaining the weight loss require some simple lifestyle adjustments. As long as you keep your first adjustments mostly within your comfort zone, you should be able to lose weight and keep it off without much interruption of your daily life.

Not surprisingly, losing weight and regaining or creating an hourglass figure does not mean extended trips to the gym or using some fad diet or dangerous pills. Here are some simple steps to making healthier choices throughout your day.

A little daily exercise can make a real difference in the shape of your body, and in the way your body processes calories. When you exercise correctly, you work your heart, mind and body. You are building your muscle mass too. Not only does the exercise help in burning some calories, muscle mass burns calories even in its resting state. So, your exercise will do you good around the clock.

While exercising, you strengthen your heart so that it pumps blood throughout your body more effectively, reducing the risk of heart disease. You also reduce fatty deposits, which in turn helps reduce your risk of many health problems such as stroke. Endorphins are released after about 20 minutes of exercise, and they make you feel great for quite a while after exercising!

To gain all these benefits and help move you toward that ideal figure, you simply need to move for a minimum of half an hour a few days a week. Take a two-mile walk at a brisk pace, throw a Frisbee or ride a bicycle. You should elevate your heart above its resting rate and you should be breathing a little heavier than normal.

Why do most diets fail? The main reason is that people go overboard. They reduce the foods that they allow themselves to eat so drastically that they eventually feel deprived constantly eating the same things. Also, a diet that is too restrictive may not be nourishing your body properly. Allow yourself delicious, natural foods that will whittle away at your waistline, and there's nothing wrong with a small treat every now and then.

Studies prove that having a Buddy increases your chances of sticking to a diet, exercise routine, or long-term weight loss. Buddies are wonderful motivators. They will help you feel accountable throughout the day. You can also appoint a fitness trainer as a Buddy. These don't have to be very expensive, and their expertise can be very valuable when you are beginning to exercise. A fitness trainer will show you the proper way to exercise and avoid injury.

Everyone who wants to have their ideal figure has their own reasons. Maybe the doctor advised us to take some action; maybe we want to get back into some favorite "skinny jeans." Maybe you want to get rid of postpartum belly fat. Whatever your motivation, it's smart to take control. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., and what's amazing about that is that it's completely avoidable.

Here are some sensible proven weight loss tips that people can implement no matter what their present physical condition is.

#1 Drink more water. Most Americans don't know that they might be borderline dehydrated. A dehydrated body is working on what's called the water starvation reflex. If you think you're hungry, drink a glass of water and wait ten minutes. You may find you weren't hungry at all.

#2 Eat more often. You do need to eat less calories than you expend in order to lose weight, but many people don't know that you must eat more often to keep your metabolism running at its peak, which makes your body a fat burning furnace. Start the day off with breakfast. Even an instant breakfast drink and a piece of fruit as we head out the door in the morning is better than nothing.

#3 Move more. Don't use the elevator; run up the stairs. Don't park right next to the store or office; park out at the end and walk in. Go dancing a couple of nights a week. Play with the kids. Make it fun! Every little bit really does help. Running is not the only way to burn more calories.

#4 Finally, determine your "Why". Decide why you want to reduce fat. Make your reason important enough to motivate you through the slumps that invariably happen. An ideal figure is a wonderful goal, but find a reason that will help you maintain and tweak your lifestyle changes for the long-term, even after you have reached your goal weight.