excercise helps burn off those calories(cardio) and define your body (weight training).

yoga and pilates helps with your flexibility.

eating the right foods helps you achieve your goal faster.

i just read something on yahoo it said that you will eat less when you eat protein for breakfast. they did a study with women who they served two eggs and two pieces of toast with jelly and they ate less calories through the day opposed to if they didn't eat the protein(eggs)