Maintaining a healthy weight can help you live a long and happy life. When you reduce your weight, you'll also reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. However, losing weight can be difficult. It requires several lifestyle changes that can be hard to maintain on your own. Here are four tips to help you lose weight and keep it off for good:

1. Cut down on excess calories.

Many people are hesitant to begin a diet because they believe they'll be hungry all the time. You can start losing weight without overhauling your diet completely. Instead, cut out empty calories like candy, soda, and alcoholic beverages. These foods are high in sugar and contain few nutrients. When trying to lose weight, focus on foods that will fuel your body and keep your stomach full for longer. Skip the junk food.

2. Begin exercising gradually.

When you decide you want to lose weight, it may be tempting to go all-in. However, undertaking an exercise program that's too rigorous can leave you with injuries that will set your progress back. If you try to do too much too soon, you may grow discouraged and quit entirely. Small, sustainable changes are more important than big gestures. Begin your exercise program by taking a half hour walk three to four times per week. As you get stronger, you can increase the difficulty. 

3. Invest in a personal fitness device.

Personal fitness devices have become more common in recent years. Often, they look like watches that you can strap around your wrist. They keep track of your heart rate, steps taken throughout the day, and overall calorie expenditure. If you're trying to become less sedentary, a fitness device can encourage you to move throughout the day. Trying to meet a goal of a certain number of steps can motivate you to start walking.

4. Seek help at a weight management clinic.

If you need more guidance in your weight loss journey, a weight management clinic can help you. A doctor can evaluate you and design a weight loss program to help you. They can help you chart your progress over time and medically supervise you, to ensure you're losing weight in a safe and sustainable manner. Your doctor can also provide you with nutritional advice, which is perfect if you want to make more drastic changes to your diet. You don't have to lose weight all on your own. Find a clinic near you that offers a weight loss plan that works for you.