Take a quick look at the weight loss section in any bookstore, or glance over the internet, and you will find any number of books and articles that claim different ways to lose weight quickly and effortlessly. You likely have realized, however, that fad diets simply don’t work. But what does?

Packing a lunch will keep you from packing on those pounds. Take some time in the evening or the morning before work, to put together a healthy lunch to take to work with you. Bringing in your own lunch will keep you from falling prey to the high calorie items that you will end up with, at your local drive thru.

You don’t necessarily need to do exercises when trying to lose weight. This tip is for people who dislike exercising just for the goal of the exercise itself. Fool yourself into burning calories through such activities as bike riding, hiking or playing with your dog. This can be rewarding and may not seem like work.

Eat less, but do it in a different way! You don’t want to let yourself get hungry or you may slip off your diet. A great way to do this is to eat several small meals throughout your day. It may feel like you are eating more, but in fact you are helping to keep your metabolism steady. As long as the small meals are healthy, you will be just fine.

Make sure that you eat breakfast every morning. Research has shown that people who eat breakfast each morning take in fewer calories during the day than those who do not eat breakfast. Since the primary part of weight loss is burning more calories than you take in, the less you take in the better.

If you have a dog, and you’re trying to take off a few pounds, walk your dog regularly, at least four times a day. Even a quick walk around the block is 3/8 of a mile in our neighborhood; four times makes 1.5 miles, which is a very respectable amount and enough to keep the weight from creeping back up. Don’t walk your dog? Time to start. Don’t have a dog? Get one and take him or her for a nice long walk, every day. You and your dog will be glad you did, and you’ll both be healthier for it.

Try to keep a journal of foods that trigger you to eat too much. Take time each day to write down what you’ve eaten, how much, and the feelings or emotions you were feeling. This will allow you to determine what’s causing you to overeat so you’ll be able to make necessary changes.

A really good way to lose weight is to stock up on bottled water and keep a bottle with you at all times when you’re out and about. By having bottled water readily available, you won’t have to resort to drinking an unhealthy drink like soda or a mocha latte.

Try eating canned salmon to lose weight. Some people do not feel comfortable cooking fresh, raw fish. If you are one of these people, consider buying your fish in cans. Alternatively, you can also find fish sold in tins, the freezer section, or even individually sealed packages. Most of these fish products require little to no cooking.

Use mustard instead of mayonnaise. Many people love mayonnaise, but a small amount is quite high in calories and fat. Using mustard can help to lower the fat and calorie content in your meals. Cut out calories by never eating mayo again.

It is a good idea to make weight loss goals that are easily attainable. This makes you more motivated when you reach those goals and will prompt you to stick with the program with the hopes of losing more weight. You can even buy yourself some sort of treat as a reward for reaching your goal.

Gauge the portion size of meat by the palm of your hand. You can also think of a healthy size portion as being the approximate size of a deck of cards. If you keep these visual images in mind you aren’t as likely to load your plate up with too much meat and blow your diet for the day.

Choose something with which to reward yourself once you meet an important long-term goal, but make sure your reward isn’t food. Treat yourself to a massage or a new pair of jeans if you’ve gone down a size. You should celebrate your successes, but you should try to avoid using food as a celebration for reaching milestones.

If you’re pregnant, make sure you’re not on any kind of weight loss diet. You don’t want to lose weight during this critical time. If you’re dieting and trying to lose weight you’re not only depriving yourself of nutrients, but you’re depriving the baby of nutrients. Don’t forget that you’re eating for two (or three!) when you’re pregnant.

If it feels like obstacles are getting in the way of your weight-loss dreams, there are ways to overcome them. Try creating a buddy system so you know you are not alone on your journey. Also, try getting your workouts done in the morning, so your mind can be free knowing you are done with that important part of your day.

You HAVE to eat breakfast if you want to lose weight. It’s important to get your calories in before you end up burning them. If you eat a lot before bed then all those calories will end up being converted to fat while you sleep. Have a decently sized breakfast full of healthy foods and you’ll be running all day!

If a diet sounds too good to be true, it often is. So steer clear of fad diets and pills, and apply instead the tips and suggestions presented here in this article. They have worked for countless people who have been able to take weight off, and keep it off.