When it comes to losing weight, the only tried and true way to lose weight is to win the calorie battle. Simply put, you need to burn more calories than you consume each day to lose weight. You can do this by cutting down on your intake of calories or by increasing your level of exercise. If you eat healthy foods, you will be eating foods that are healthier sources of calories and foods that contribute to a healthier body weight. To lose weight healthy and steadily, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends cutting 500 to 1,000 calories per day from your diet. This will give you a weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week. Calorie counters are available online or in stores.