Meal Planning

     Plan your meals ahead of time!  The fast food industry banks on people's need for food on the go...if you take the time to prepare your breakfast, lunch and dinner, you become a little more in control  of your daily caloric intake.  While you can eat at fast food places, most of the menu is off limits to you...if you are going to a fast food place, know what foods are okay for you to eat, know how many calories are in the food, how many grams of fat, etc.  Don't just assume that this sandwich that you get will be a certain number of calories...its important that you know the exact amount of calories.  Also, if you are going to a restaurant, think ahead of what you want to eat there...remove that temptation and stick to exactly what you planned on eating before going to the restaurant.

     This is another tip, like the weight loss journal, that gets you thinking about food.  You have to removed the mindless way of eating that you've been pursuing.  Most people wake up one day and they're fat and they think to themselves, "How did I gain that weight?", if you actively plan your meals, actively write down your calories, you remove this:  See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, way of eating.  If you keep your eyes open you can see where you're diets fail.  Be aware, that's the main thing in successful dieting!