Weight Loss and Diet Tips for Success

New week, new "weight loss and diet tips" for you to enjoy.

Missed last week's first 12 tips? Here's an handy link to quickly get back to them. Feedback and comments as always welcome!

37. Never Crash diet to Lose Weight - Crash diets just don't work for the long haul.... unless if you mean "crash and burn". The thing about crash diets is that maybe you will lose the weight, but the minute you go off of them the pounds come back. The reason for this is because usually with a crash diet you are doing something extreme that you couldn't possible keep up with for a lifetime. And, like we mentioned before, we are trying to make a lifestyle change. So, please.... walk away from the crash diets.

38. Instead of eliminating food… substitute them. Eliminating the foods you enjoy can be disastrous. Especially when you want this to be a lifestyle change. If you love meatloaf, but you know that it is high in fat and calories don't eliminate it from you diet, but instead make substitutions. Make alterations to the foods or recipes to keep your favorite foods in your diet.

39. Instead of drinking fruit juice…. Eat a piece of fruit. - This tip saves on sugar and we must admit that eating something is much more satisfying than drinking it. There is a lot of extra calories and sugar in fruit juice. Our suggestion.... stay away from it.

40. Gradual changes are more permanent - We know when you have made a commitment and decide to lose weight you want it now.... all of it. You want to dive right into the diet, eat the right foods, start a new exercise program and see results. But, the truth is that weight loss is a lot of work. And, it is a lot of change that need to be made. Sometimes, gradual changes is the key. You don't need to change everything at once and totally shock your system. For some people changing one thing at the time is key.

41. Stop eating when you are satisfied not when you are full or stuffed. - For some this tip is a difficult one to grasp. After all, is there a difference? What is the difference between satisfied and full? For one thing, being satisfied is usually the feeling you get before reaching full. Full, is the feeling you get when you can't eat another bit. Full can even be the discomfort you feel when you stuffed yourself. Satisfied is that you ate enough to carry you until you next meal or snack. Secondly, the difference between eating until you satisfied and eating until you full could mean the difference between loosing the weight and not losing the weight. Remember, we are supposed to be eating to live.... not living to eat.

42. Be in it for the long term…. Think lifestyle change not diet.

43. Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. - Fruit and vegetables have a lot of fiber in it. And, as we mentioned before fiber stays in your system longer and makes you feel fuller for a longer period of time. This is what you want... plus, eating your fruits and veggies has so many other health benefits as well.

44. Do not Skip Meals - You might think that if you skip a meal here and there it would be a perfect method of losing weight. After all, you would be saving on a full meal's calories. This is a common misconception. Skipping meals will be sabotaging your weight loss goals. First thing in the morning your metabolism needs a kick start. In order to kick start your metabolism you need to feed it. Until your metabolism as its first bite of food you will not start burning calories. So, eat your breakfast.... it is a must to lose weight.

45. Go for fresh food when possible. Less Chemicals and Salt. Fresh food has a lot less salt and chemicals that the packaged food does. We know that sometimes packaged food is easier... especially when you are on the run. But, if you have the chance eat fresh food.... it is better for you and the scale.

46. Start right away….. no Procrastinating. Stop procrastinating and just do it. All you need is the right Weight Loss Tools and you will be all set. We know change is scary, but change can also be the best thing that has every happened to you. Instead of thinking of change as scary think of it as exciting.

47. Restaurant Meal Planning - If you are planning a night out and are going to be going to a restaurant plan what you are going to eat ahead of time. Many restaurants have nutritional information of their meals online. If they do check out the nutritional information of the meal you are going to order before going to the restaurant. If that is not possible ask your waiter/waitress when you arrive at the restaurant if they have their food's nutritional information available. This will make it easier to stick to your diet away from home and still be able to eat out.

48. Buy some new clothes - Who wants to gain even a few pounds back when you have purchased new clothes. Purchase a pair of jeans one size less than the size you are right now. It will keep you motivated to lose some weight to get into these new pair of jeans. Plus, if you don't like to take measurements of your body weekly (this can be difficult to do on your own) put on these jeans weekly so that you can see how your weight loss is changing your body. But, please don't buy a pair of jeans more than 1 size below where you are now. Remember, as I mentioned higher up in this list small goal increments work best. If you set a goal that is very far away it is sometimes difficult to see how close you are getting to reaching it. However, if the goals are smaller (like, one jean size) than it is easier to see how well you are doing at achieving your goals.

Stay tuned for another 12 tips coming up a week from now!