The 48-Hour Weight-Loss Jump Start

Keep Your Progress Going

If you've made it this far, chances are you'll continue working out. Braganza suggests doing her workout three days a week, alternating with 30 to 40 minutes of straight cardio every other day (you'll have one day of rest each week).

But this routine will only be good for 4 to 6 weeks. After that, you'll have to make tweaks to the routine in order to see any noticeable changes. As creatures of habit, we like doing the same exercise -- but if you're trying to lose weight, your efforts will no longer work. "This is called the principal of adaptation," says Braganza. "There needs to be variety in the exercises you do. You can do the same body parts but learn new exercises for them."

Sometimes grabbing a workout buddy might help you stay in a program for the long haul. Another way to spice up your daily physical activity is to avoid the gym altogether and just go outside. "Take a walk and track how far you go with a pedometer. Or play with your kids or dogs," Braganza suggests. Also, participating in other sports -- biking, hiking, or rock climbing, for instance -- is a great way to stay active. Find something you like to do and keep doing it.

Whatever you do, make sure you write your diet habits and exercise activities down. Blatner says if you keep track of what you are eating, then you'll lose twice as much weight.

"I do think there is an extreme value of doing a jump start for yourself. The number one reason why people don't stick to a plan is because they don't see the results fast enough," says Blatner. Doing something like this for part of the week will make you more likely to develop healthier habits over your lifetime.