Weight loss is a popular topic when it comes to personal goals. It can also be a popular New Year's resolution. Unfortunately it isn't as easy to do as people wish it was. This article can help you to find ways that can help you to lose the weight that you have been trying to lose.

1. Every dieter under the sun has heard about portion control and how that supposedly helps you lose weight, but the portion size of your meal isn't nearly as important as the time in which it takes you to eat it. Slow down when you're eating and give your body time to feel full. Your body releases hormones that tell the brain to stop eating, but they aren't released when you woof the food down.

2. If you want to lose weight, a great thing to do is find substitutes for foods you already enjoy. For instance, if you love ice cream but are on a diet, try frozen yogurt or even regular yogurt. Instead of drinking cream in your coffee, try a non-dairy creamer. This will give you the feeling that you are still enjoying food; just in a healthier way.

3. When you are trying to lose weight, you do not have to spend money to go to the gym. You can exercise at home and get the same results that you would at the gym. Try buying a workout DVD, or if you can afford it, buy a treadmill or exercise bike.

4. A really useful tip to help you lose weight is to create your own salad dressing. Salad dressings are notorious for having high fat content. Instead, you can make your own salad dressing. For instance, you can add a few teaspoons each of balsamic vinegar and canola oil, and mix them together.

5. A tip that may help you lose weight is to start practicing meditation. Meditation can help you reduce stress, and everyone knows that dieting can be extremely stressful. A short session of meditation every day can help insure your success on your diet, and with life in general.

6. If you have an insatiable sweet tooth, try and swap some of your sweets for natural sweets instead. Fruit leather, dried fruit and other nutritionally dense foods carry a punch of nutrition while still being a delightful treat. Eventually, you may find you have a taste for fruit instead of chocolate without even trying!

7. If you're trying to lose weight, a balanced vegetarian diet may be an option for you. Some people find that a vegetarian diet forces them to make healthier choices during meal times. However, beware of consuming too many carbohydrates! Keep your pasta and bread intake moderate, otherwise you'll miss out on the benefits of a vegetarian diet.

8. If you are following a very controlled or rigorousness diet or meal plan then it can be incredibly beneficial to purchase some type of weighing instrument for your kitchen. The most common and practical one is a common kitchen scale as it is small and will allow you to know the weights of your food.

9. When you feel a craving coming on, ask yourself which color you need right now. It sounds odd, but it works if you're trying to lose weight. Once you recognize which color you need, picture in your mind that you are completely surrounded by that color. By the time you have the visualization in place, your craving should be over.

It has been said that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. Most people feel that they should lose at least a few kiloss, but it always seems to elude them. By heeding the advice in this article and making changes in your diet and lifestyle, you can achieve that goal.