Weight Loss Tips

Some important DOs:

Put yourself in charge.
Remember that, for the most part, you decide when and what to eat. Even if you wind up with something in front of you that isn't healthy, you don't have to finish it.

Increase your fiber.
Thanks to the low-carb craze and new labeling rules for whole-grain products, there are more options than ever before. Try to get at least a few grams of fiber into every serving of breads and cereals. You'll feel full longer.

Drink your water.
Keep a full glass on-hand at all times. It can quell your appetite, and help keep you healthy in a hundred other ways.

Weigh and measure.
An inexpensive food scale and measuring cups will help you keep portions in line.

Don't let it in the house.
Make your home a healthy-eating zone. If temptations aren't there, you're less likely to cave into them.

Stay at the table.
Don't eat at your desk, in front of the television, or standing up at the counter. It's too easy to rush or get too distracted to know when you're full.

Wait ten minutes.
Tempted by a high-fat, high-calorie snack? Table the idea for 10 minutes to see if you really need it.

Forgive yourself.
If you eat something you regret, don't dwell on it. Simply try to do better next time.

And three key DON'Ts:

Don't skip meals.
Always start your day with breakfast. You can confuse your metabolism and actually wind up putting on weight if you skip meals. Let your body know that you aren't planning to deprive it by feeding it at regular intervals.

Don't cut out the things you love.
Trying to eat just one type of food or making some foods "off limits" will just make you feel deprived and frustrated. Teach yourself to eat the things you like in moderation. You need carbohydrates, you need protein, and you need a little fat. And occasionally, you need to indulge a bit, too.

Don't watch the scale too closely.
Weighing in every day can be frustrating. Weight loss is a process. Besides, the way your clothes fit can be a much more rewarding proof of your success.