A new year is approaching, and with it comes our New Year's Resolutions. Many people have "Lose Weight" or "Get Fit" as their top priorities for 2017. Seeing as over one half of American adults are overweight or obese, setting a body weight goal is appropriate for many people. However, the majority of individuals trying to get to a healthy weight have no idea how to start working towards a weight loss goal. There is so much wrong information circulating over television, the internet, and magazines about diets fads and weight loss tips. Most people do not know that they are harming their bodies and setting themselves back even farther by choosing to listen to these dangerous sources. Here are a few things to remember while trying to find a routine that will help you lose weight.

Steer clear of anything that is considered a "quick fix." You might see a product that claims to drop you ten pounds in five days and think it's a miracle when you start to drop weight. You may see a drop on the scale, but this will be a loss in water and is actually quite dangerous. Know that it is impossible to truly lose large amounts of fat over a short period of time. In order to lose fat safely and efficiently, a lifestyle change in diet and exercise needs to occur.

"Fit" Teas and Detox Teas are not miracle products. They make you lose weight because they are laxatives in drink form. Any "diet aid" that makes you excessively use the bathroom is bad for your body and should be avoided. If you like to drink tea for health benefits, try green tea. It is a great for decreasing bloating and making you feel more alert.

Never drastically drop your caloric intake. Of course, weight loss comes from eating less calories than you use, but a huge and fast drop in calories will only set you up for a rebound in weight. When you lower your calories drastically (anywhere around 1,200 calories or below), your body panics and goes into a starvation mode. You will feel tired, slow, and even sick. Your body will actually try to not lose any weight, since it thinks that you are starving it wants to hold onto any that fat it has. Instead of drastically dropping your calories, try to eat only healthy and whole foods, and only eat when you are truly hungry.

A change in diet always needs to come with a change in exercise. We all know the phrase, "abs are made in the kitchen", but without proper exercise your body will never reach its true potential. You don't have to workout for massive amounts every day, but it is important to work your cardiovascular and muscular fitness every week, as well as keep a full range of motion through flexibility exercises. A diet alone will never give you full results, you need some sort of fitness plan as well.

Always keep in mind that you should lose weight to feel good, not look good. Our bodies our amazing machines and they should never be neglected. Listen to your body, not your brain. Your body always knows what it wants.