We want losing weight to be easy. The bad news? It isn’t easy. There is good news though. Losing weight is simple. It takes commitment and time, but it isn’t rocket science. With a few good guidelines and tips, simple changes in lifestyle and habits can lead to weight loss. Read on to find out how simple these changes can be.

One weight-loss or weight-maintenance tip people have adopted is to change the size of their dishes and cutlery. We switched from the regular dinner plates to luncheon plates, and similarly, downsized our flatware to salad forks and teaspoons. As a result, our portions have become automatically smaller, and we eat less, but the plate still looks full. People who want more food, and who don’t need to lose weight, can take second helpings. But we’ve found that, psychologically, it is much more satisfying to be able to take a full plate of food, and have the freedom to eat it all, than to try to content ourselves with lonely little islands of food on large plates.

Be proud when you are losing weight! Do not sucker yourself into buying the tiny bikini you wish you could wear or a new outfit that will take a massive amount of weight loss to fit your body. Instead, celebrate minor weight loss goals by getting a manicure or a massage. The reward can be anything that is about you and your well- being rather than getting wrapped up in fitting into smaller clothing. When you do reach a goal and drop to size you are happy with, go ahead and buy that new outfit!

If you are trying to lose weight you need to distinguish between eating when you are hungry and eating when you are tired and emotional. If you feel hungry, even though lunch was an hour ago, consider if there might be another cause. Did your boss just yell at you, or did someone hurt your feelings? If it turns out you are not actually hungry you should write down why you are feeling the way you do and how food won’t help. Then try to relax and do something pleasurable besides eating.

If you are going out to eat at a restaurant, avoid the complimentary starters. A lot of restaurants provide baskets of bread or chips and salsa to start off your meal. These are empty calories that you usually won’t even notice you are having. When you sit down, ask your waiter to just leave the basket of bread off your table.

While you are trying to lose weight you should get into the habit of chewing your food well. Food should be in a liquid or near liquid state when you swallow it. Not only will this help you feel satisfied, but it allows your body to digest the food easily.

Treat yourself. When you follow in the overall healthy eating plan, you can afford to enjoy a dessert or glass of wine from time to time. This does not, in any way, mean that you have failed. It simply means that you know you’re doing a good job with your weight loss plan. Regardless, don’t search for constant rewards. You diet should be viewed as a lifestyle change, not a negative.

Do not think about using the actual word “diet”. Tell people you are controlling your calorie intake or you are simply monitoring what you consume. However, saying that you are on a diet makes you feel that you cannot eat and may make you feel down.

Find a weight loss buddy. You can motivate each other not to slack off or engage in bad habits. You can turn to each other for motivation and trade tips to help each other find more effective weight loss strategies.

Some people need an extra little kick to get them on a good weight loss plan. Right now, there is a show on television called The Biggest Loser. It is about overweight people who are trying to lose weight. If you are struggling, watch the show for inspiration and you may also learn some new tricks.

Finding it hard to keep the weight off? Stay motivated, and stay focused on your weight loss goals – research shows that keeping the weight off gets easier over time, as new eating patterns and new exercise patterns become habits. Be persistant, and before you know it, maintaining your weight loss will become routine.

As was said before, weight loss may not be easy, but it is simple. Knowing what you can do to shed pounds is the simple part. The next step takes commitment. Consider and act on what you have learned from the tips in this article. Stay at it, and you will find that simple things really do help you to shed pounds!