We want losing weight to be easy. The bad news? It isn’t easy. There is good news though. Losing weight is simple. It takes commitment and time, but it isn’t rocket science. With a few good guidelines and tips, simple changes in lifestyle and habits can lead to weight loss. Read on to find out how simple these changes can be.

An important part of any weight loss journey is learning to control your own food. This means learning to cook from scratch, so that you know exactly what’s going into the foods you eat. Also, cooking from scratch will let you replace high-calorie ingredients such as cream, with lower-calorie ones such as skim milk.

Your phone can be an important tool in your weight loss journey. When you are tempted to eat an unhealthy food, call a friend or family member and chat about anything other than eating. Your desire to snack only lasts a few minutes, so this simple distraction may be all you need to remain on track.

Getting enough rest and relaxation is, surprisingly, very helpful when trying to lose weight. A common reaction among people when they are stressed is to eat or drink more–it can give a sense of well-being or a “reward” for accomplishing tasks. Getting enough rest and doing something enjoyable to relax can be substituted as a reward. It is more satisfying in the long run than eating something and it’s fat free!

Weight loss is often a numbers game. A single pound consisting of fat is about 3500 calories. So the formula to losing weight is, for every pound you want to shed, you need to burn 3500 more calories than you take in. A convenient way to break this down is into 500 calorie increments, and aim to use 500 calories more daily than you consume. That way, you can easily shed a pound every week.

If you are aiming to lose weight, then a great tip is to always go grocery shopping with a list and stick to that list. Do not get any food item that is not on that list. If you do this, you are not as likely to get foods that are bad for you.

Protein plays a big role in helping curb hunger. You should try to include at least some protein in all your meals – for example, drinking skim or soy milk at breakfast instead of juice with your cereal. Protein snacks, such as a handful of nuts, can also go a long way toward curbing hunger in between meals.

When eating protein, some people like a more flavorful choice. Instead of adding sour cream or some other creamy sauce, put some salsa or chutney on your protein. This will bring a huge kick to your flavor, without adding extra fat and calories that you really do not need.

If you are on a diet, do not go out with friends who like to consume large portions at restaurants. This will allow you to avoid a situation where you would be tempted to consume food that will not help in your journey towards trimming down and looking your best.

Parties are full of alcohol, chips and different types of food that are very bad for you, if you are trying to lose weight. Before you go to a party, drink a lot of water and consume a small meal. This will help to curb your appetite and limit your temptation to eat when you are at the festivities.

Microwave a quick cup of vegetable based soup for lunch, or have it with a half of a sandwich. This too will incorporate more vegetables into your diet. Vegetable soups are low in calories and high in fiber. They can fill you up quickly, cheaply and on a cold day that can make you feel warmer.

Understand the effect of prescription medication on your body and metabolism. Many adults take one or more maintenance medications for a variety of health needs. Some of these medications have weight gain as a side effect or, at the least, may hinder efforts to lose weight. Talk to your doctor about alternatives if one of your medications is causing you to struggle with weight loss.

Are you trying to maximize your cardiovascular exercise routines to lose weight? Consider purchasing a heart rate monitor! A heart rate monitor enables you to be more in tune with your body ““ to monitor your fat burning zone ““ so that you can make your workout more effective while you burn more calories!

For the best results, reduce or eliminate your consumption of sugary and fatty foods and beverages. Stay far away from fast food, these foods are processed and way higher in calories and fat than home-cooked meals. If you do indulge in soda pop, do so very sparingly.

A little extra walking is an easy way to lose extra pounds. Purchase a pedometer to count the step you take each day. Challenge your self to walk a little more each day. Once you reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day, decide if you want to maintain that distance or improve on it.

As was said before, weight loss may not be easy, but it is simple. Knowing what you can do to shed pounds is the simple part. The next step takes commitment. Consider and act on what you have learned from the tips in this article. Stay at it, and you will find that simple things really do help you to shed pounds!