Hi, I am 20 years old, 5′6” and weigh 190lbs. I have gained quite a bit of weight over the last years and would love to be the weight I was before. I am finding it very difficult to stick with a diet plan because it seems like all of them are unrealistic. I have started walking daily for about one hour. I am getting married in a few months and would really love to be at least 30-40lbs lighter. Saying that I just need advice on how to stick with a diet plan that will work for me and how to lose belly and back fat!!! Desperately need help!!!! Aman. [via Ask Questions]

I do not know which diet plans you have tried, but it is true that some of them can be overly restrictive and hard to follow. You do not really need a diet to lose 40 pounds – you just need to understand how weight loss works. I think you should read this and this to get started.

Here is something else to consider: instead of looking for a diet to lose 40 pounds or a diet to lose 30 pounds, or any diet for that matter, it is better to simply focus on eating healthy.

Research shows that short term diets do not work for a long term weight maintains. When people focus on learning how to eat healthy, they not only reach their weight-loss goals, they have a much better chance of keeping the lost weight off.