The best way to describe a safe weight-loss plan is to compare it to skydiving. While the free-falling portion of this breathtaking activity is nothing less than pulse-pounding, you know that eventually, you're going to have to pop that parachute. Otherwise, you'll end up a permanent part of the earth.

The same goes with your diet. While taking the excess weight off of your body is a truly gratifying experience, it must also be a gradual process. If the scale is dipping too much, too fast, you're destined to end in a fatal disaster. Losing weight is meant to be a slow, gradual process.

Those who are overzealous in their weight-loss intentions are likely to a) develop health problems, eating disorders, are vitamin and mineral deficiencies, or b) put all the weight right back on. New studies are also showing that rapid weight loss among women results in the increased likelihood of gallstones.

The best way to take the weight off - and keep it off - is to develop a strategy which will allow you to drop on the average of a pound and a half per week. Do not mistake quantity for quality. Eat enough to keep your energy levels up, yet be choosy in what you consume. Keep the saturated fats, the sodium, and the calories at a respectable level, and be sure to get some exercise into your everyday routine. By keeping these crucial elements in mind, it will allow your diet - and your weight loss efforts - to land safely on the ground.