Who among us hasn’t struggled with a few unwanted pounds now and then? When your goal is to lose weigh in a healthy manner though, it can sometimes be difficult to know the most effective way to shed those stubborn pounds, as much misinformation exists on weight loss. Read on for proven weight loss tips!

Before eating any meal, drink at least a full 8oz. glass of cold water. It will cause you to feel full faster, and as a result, you will eat less. It also will help you stay hydrated, which is important not only for keeping a steady metabolism, but also to help keep you energized.

Take the excess fat out of your meals. You can do little things like take the skin off the chicken you eat. Doing this can save you around 80-90 calories per chicken breast. Think about how many chicken breasts you eat a week and how many calories you could be saving a week by doing this one simple thing alone.

A great tip to help you lose weight is to track your progress by using your belt. Scales can be very inaccurate when determining how fit you are, but your belt will let you know if you’re losing weight. If you have to increase a notch or two in your belt, then you are making great progress.

When it comes to snacking, try to avoid junk food. instead opt for healthier food options like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Great choices include celery, tomatoes,dipping sauces made of lowfat yogurt, whole-grain crackers and much more. These will keep you satisfied much longer than any processed foods will until it’s time for your next meal.

If you watch what you eat and what you do, it is truly very simple to lose weight. You should make sure to not stay stationary at any point, like watching television or reading a book. You will be expending the least amount of energy at these points. Instead, you should go for a walk or go outside.

Your mind is the most influential part of your body when it comes to weight loss. Remember that every decision you make has a repercussion, so if you decide to diet you can lose weight, but if you decide to eat out just remember that you’re the only one giving yourself extra calories. No one is forcing food down your throat.

Drinking water is an obvious weight-loss suggestion, but did you know it can also affect your appetite at mealtime? Next time you’re sitting down to dinner, try drinking a large (16-oz or more) glass of cool water before you sit down to eat. You may find that your stomach has less room for food and that you will eat less.

Some people find that when trying to lose weight, their tape measure is a better ally than the scale. If you’re a woman, measure your waist and hips around the widest part once every week or two as you make progress toward your weight-loss goals. Seeing the inches go down will inspire you to reach your goals.

To assist in weight loss one needs to think of their motivation behind wanting to lose weight. This motivation will increase ones will to lose weight and prevent one from giving up on their weight loss struggle. Motivation can be the difference between successful and unsuccessful weight loss for an individual.

There are a lot of foods on the market that people think are “diet friendly” because they say “fat-free” or “zero trans fats.” Beware of these foods, they are actually a dieters downfall. They are loaded with huge amounts of sugar or sodium which will expand your waistline in no time.

A sandwich made with lean meat and fat-free spreads, makes a fine addition to any dieter’s weight loss plan. You can up the nutritional value of any sandwich by opting for fiber-rich whole grain bread, which is more filling and free of refined products, such as, bleached flour. Compared with whole grain bread, white bread is notorious for its association with belly fat.

When you are preparing meat at home make sure that you trim off any excess fat before putting it on to cook. While the body does need some fat, it does not need to have too much excess, so trimming meat is a good way to shave off the pounds.

One practically painless way to cut calories is to request that salad dressing be placed on the side when ordering in a restaurant. If the dressing is on the salad when it is served you will eat more of it than if it comes on the side. Avoid drenching your salad in dressing; try dipping a fork in a cup of dressing for just a bit of flavor. After you lose a bit of weight you will feel glad that you eliminated a lot of unwanted calories.

Although many people have misconceptions about how to effectively lose weight, abundant research indicates that weight loss can actually be achieved and maintained, by following a few simple, specific steps that are easily implemented, even if you lead a fast-paced, busy lifestyle. But don’t take our word for it – try it yourself!