Calorie Intake

• Adhering to the right amount of calories for your body type goes a long way in losing weight. Recommended calorie intake can be tallied via the following equation: Body weight (lbs) x 15 + (moderate activity [minutes per day] x 3.5). Once you get that number, subtract 500 to see how many calories you need to take in per day to lose weight. For instance, if you weighed 200 pounds -- 200 x 15 equals 3,000. If you did 30 minutes of moderate activity per day, x 3.5 equals 303.5, which equals 3,303.5 when added to 3,000. Subtract 500 for weight loss calories, and this person could eat 2803.5 calories per day and still lose weight.
  
  

Servings and Portion Size

• You should eat at least five servings of fruits/vegetables per day, as these contain fibers that aid in weight loss. Also, keep track of your portion size--and eat slowly--to lose weight. Smaller portions equal less fat/calorie intake, while eating slowly gives the brain more time to tell the body it is full, thereby resulting in less food eaten. Some of the more popular raw fruits/vegetables include apples, oranges, bananas, tomatoes, and lettuce, many of which can be mixed together for a healthy snack packed with plenty of nutrients.
  
  

Do Not Skip Meals

• While some people may be tempted to skip meals in the hopes of losing weight, this is actually counterproductive when it comes to setting weight loss goals. In fact, eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day keeps your blood sugar balanced, which can aid in losing weight and an overall healthy lifestyle. Eating these small meals also helps keep your metabolism going, thereby burning more calories throughout the day.
  
  

Treat Yourself

• Feel free to indulge in occasional (and moderate) treats, such as ice cream, chocolate, and salty snacks. These can serve as rewards, so long as they are eaten in moderation. Those who go for long periods without "treat" foods, such as ice cream, sweets, and salty snacks, could experience a "crash" after a long period of time, whereby they overindulge in these unhealthy foods. Eating these foods occasionally and in moderation aids in staving off these potential crashes, and provides a reward system as well for eating healthy.
  
  

Avoid Unnecessary Sugars

• Sugar contained in drinks like juices, soda, and coffee creamers can help pack on pounds. Rather, try drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. Water not only helps keep you hydrated, it also makes you feel full, thereby eliminating the potential to eat when one is actually thirsty. And unlike the drinks mentioned previously, water contains none of the unhealthy sugars that can expand your waistline.