If trying to lose weight feels like a battle to you, perhaps you are not doing it right. The only way you can stick to a long-term diet and fitness routine is when you actually feel comfortable with it and even enjoy it. To achieve this, make a detailed diet and exercise plan. But always have some flexibility to change them every once in a while to keep your mood on track with your fitness routine.

Consider the below diet and exercise tips to lose weight effectively and happily.

The good thing is that you don’t need to starve to lose weight. Fad diets and excessive fasting are also not effective for lasting weight loss. If you lose weight simply by starving, you are likely to gain it back once you start eating your normal diet again. The right way is to prepare a diet plan that you can adhere to for life.

- Proteins and healthy fats can not only make you feel satiated but also boost your weight loss goals by increasing your metabolic rate. Include healthy fats from sources such as olive oil, nuts and avocado. Eat proteins from lentils, beans, lean meat, egg whites, salmon and shrimps. You can also include commercial protein shakes to supplement your diet. Some weight loss shakes are nutritionally balanced with low calories and help with your weight goals.

- Eat vegetables to your delight. If you don’t like raw vegetables, improve their flavor by grilling or roasting them. Add olive oil, salt and herbs for seasoning. You can also make vegetable salad with walnuts, cottage cheese, orange stems and herbs.

- Eat your meals on time and refrain from fad diets. Every once in a while indulge in your favorite foods that you have excluded from your diet for weight loss. A bit of butter with your whole grain toast every now and then won’t derail your weight loss plan. If it makes you happy, it can rather boost it. Just eat it with happiness and not guilt.

To continue to exercise for weight loss, you need to enjoy the activity. If you don’t enjoy your workout, you are unlikely to feel motivated to even try it.

- Stick to an exercise routine you like. If running on the treadmill every day at the gym is not your scene, plan a different workout. Any strenuous workout will help with weight loss. So, if you enjoy swimming, aim for 30 minutes to an hour of this amazing water workout at least 4-5 times a week. You can alternate this with dancing or yoga if you like.

- If working out alone feels boring to you, make it social. Go on a run with your friend. Play a team sport 2-3 times a day. Plan hiking trips with your family. Use the trampoline with your kids or siblings.

- Take adequate rest so that your body can recover from a workout. A tired body can soon suck the fun out of your workout.