by Shaz Slaughter

Created on: January 05, 2009   Last Updated: June 09, 2009

Many people think that losing weight is difficult and almost impossible task, when in actuality it is only as difficult as you make it. Many people think that getting on the newest weight loss diet craze will help them lose weight, but here is the catch in order to keep the weight off you have to stay on that diet.

We can all agree if you don't like doing something then chances are you will stop doing it. The same goes for diets. Granted you may lose 20 pounds eating only celery and bean sprouts, but if you don't like celery or bean sprouts you are likely to find something you do like to eat and go nuts and over indulge because you feel deprived. Here's a hint diets do not work.

Instead of making drastic changes to the food you eat and changing the foods you eat, try smaller changes. Here's something to try. Before you eat anything drink the biggest glass of water you can find, this will help you eat less food because you will feel full quicker.

Obviously the less food you eat the more weight you lose, the trick is to lose weigh without feeling deprived. Starving yourself is not the answer either in fact it may add to your weight gain.

Your body is designed to survive at all costs and not eating tells your body to store whatever food you do eat and your body stores food by turning it to fat. Eating regularly tells your body that a constant supply of food or energy is available and there is no need to store it for later.

Again what you want to do is find a way to eat less. How do you do that? By eating slower! Eating your food as fast as you can forces your body to process more food than is needs and what happens to the extra food that your body doesn't burn turns to fat.

Try eating slower, for example whatever you plan on having for your next meal when you sit down take one bite and chew it 25 times and put the fork down then repeat. If you like to drink while you eat take a sip of something in between taking the next bite, preferably water but wine, beer or juice will do just fine. You will find by slowing down and enjoying your food you will eat less food and still feel full.

Another thing to keep in mind is to not cut out any foods altogether just reduce the amount you eat. For example if you like cheesecake you can have a slice of cheesecake, but don't eat the entire cheesecake in one sitting. Do not try to say to yourself "I'm not going to eat cheesecake ever again", when you know you have a weakness for it, because you just open yourself up for over indulging.

The thing to do is to treat yourself once a week to the food you really like. That way you have a goal and you don't feel like you are trapped and can never eat the foods you like ever again, but remember moderation is the key.

By making small changes in the way you eat you are more likely to stick with the choices you have made and not feel deprived or cheated out of something.

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