If you’d like to lose weight, you’re not alone. Almost everyone feels that they could stand to lose a couple pounds, but for some reason, most people don’t do it! Many people feel that weight loss is intimidating, or aren’t sure how to go about it. If this is you, read on to shed your inhibitions and start shedding pounds!

A good way to lose weight is to start buying clothes that are a little bit smaller than the clothes you wear now. By owning these smaller clothes and seeing them, you’ll be very motivated to lose weight because you’ll want to be able to fit into those clothes.

Two fantastic words for weight loss: eat salad. Not exciting enough? Research by Joel Fuhrman of “Eat to Live” shows that the most overweight people can lose prodigious amounts of weight eating prodigious amounts of nutrient-rich, low-calorie food. One key is simplicity: try an entire head of romaine, chopped very fine (the water method in the blender is useful), and topped with an entire can of chili beans. It’s a tasty, 300-calorie lunch that is jam-packed with fiber, protein, and vitamins. It will keep you full for hours, not to mention what it will do for your intestinal health.

One issue that often impedes a weight loss plan is the urge to snack. It is important to plan out your snacks – just like you would plan out your meals – so that you can avoid unhealthy food when you are hungry. If you have a snack planned, then it will meet your caloric intake goal much easier for the day.

Eating raw fruit and vegetables can be a huge help when you are trying to lose weight. Not only do these foods fill you up and make great snacks between meals, they contain the vitamins and minerals from the plants in their purest form, since they have not been cooked or modified by heat.

Eating salads can be a helpful when trying to lose weight. A salad consisting of a ton of fresh vegetables and a few of your favorite fixings on top (bacon, cheese, dried cranberries, fresh fruit, cold cuts, chicken, or nuts) could be your favorite meal of the day. Top it with your favorite low fat or fat free dressing and you have a fabulous low-fat, nutrient dense meal.

You can incorporate more vitamins and nutrients into your diet, by juicing at home. Purchase a home juicer (it doesn’t have to be expensive) and try making yourself a fresh glass of juice every morning. Experiment with different combinations that you like and you will have more energy and have a stronger immune system to boot.

Take a short walk around the neighborhood before you sit down to lunch or dinner. Walking is great exercise. If you do this before you sit down to a meal, you will find that you are more likely to eat less. If you are unable to go for a walk, any other simple exercise will do.

Serving your meals on smaller plates can have a beneficial psychological effect on your diet. Studies have shown that we all tend to eat what is in front of us, no matter whether the portion size is bigger or smaller. Putting a smaller portion on a smaller dinner plate can therefore be a good way to trick your mind into thinking it has eaten enough.

Give yourself a reward. As long as you are following a sound diet plan, it is perfectly fine to indulge every so often by eating a small treat or having a beer. An occasional reward is not the same as blowing your diet. It just means that your dedication and success is worthwhile. Don’t overdo it with rewards, though. Your diet should become your lifestyle and not be a punishment.

A great weight loss tip to follow is to clearly separate hunger and thirst. Sometimes, you may think you are hungry when you are really just thirsty. Therefore, if you feel hungry, drink a glass of water instead and wait a few minutes or so to see if that was the problem.

Many people tend to eat on the go, or siting on the couch. These people usually gain unwanted weight, and don’t know how it happened. One trick to losing weight is to eat your meals sitting down at a table. Focus on the food that you are eating, and take the time to enjoy your food. In doing this, you will eat less at each sitting, and have an easier time losing weight.

As you can see, weight loss isn’t nearly as intimidating as it can seem at first. Weight loss is simple, and as you’ve read, something that you can start right now. Apply the strategies and tips you read in this article now to start becoming a healthier, slimmer, happier you.