While this is specific to each person, in general there are seven essential factors for a balanced diet: carbs, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals and water. In general you want to limit but not exclude carbohydrates (eat more complex carbs), a decent amount of protein (lean and organic preferred), healthy fats (e.g. fish oil and avocados), and get a good amount of fiber (i.e. from dark green vegetables) and lots of water to not only wash it all down, but to help with the breakdown and utilization of these factors in the digestion process.

Also do your best to not eat on the run or make poor choices if dining at fast food restaurants. Good digestion is just as important as the foods we eat. Speak with your dietitian or nutrition counselor about a specific diet plan for your weight loss goals. Changing your diet is imperative to success. Cutting out fast food, soda, highly processed foods, sugar, and other comfort foods; and replacing them with healthy fruits, veggies and nuts is about the best place to start on your road to success.

It turns out sleep is a critical part in helping one maintain a healthy body. Sleep can all affect your diet and dietary choices. If you sleep less than 7.5 hours a night and use coffee or other stimulants to keep you going throughout the day, then you are putting your body through more stress (i.e. increasing cortisol) than you should. Insufficient sleep can change how your body digests and stores fats and sugars; making your fat freezing journey more difficult.

Proper sleep has been shown to help reduce the battle of the bulge via reduced cortisol levels. When you stress your body through negative food choices and less than ideal sleep, your cortisol levels within you body begin to rise. This elevation in cortisol is detrimental and will undoubtedly cause you to pack on the pounds at an astounding pace.