Losing weight with little effort

Image from dexknows Weddings. 

If you were not born a fidgeter, maintaining and losing weight takes a bit more effort, but it need not be a herculean effort. Here are a few changes you can make that are manageable and don't require superhuman will power (which is not sustainable):

• Exercise. It's easier to exercise than control what you eat. 
• Don't have liquid calories. Those pile up fast with very little work. No more soda and juice. Water with a squeeze of lime, sprig of mint, and slices of cucumber are tasty, too. Or how about tea?
• Slow down on that eating. Savor the flavor and texture. Play a game, try to identify distinct flavors. Give your brain a chance to register that you are full. If you cram food in your face, you'll end up eating more. 
• Be realistic. Don't aim to lose a lot of pounds in a short period of time. You'd want to be able to maintain it, too. 
• Keep track. Being mindful of what you eat and what you weight keeps you accountable. 
• Motivate yourself. Have something tangible in mind, like hanging up that pants next to the refrigerator. 
• Get rid of junk food in your house. You don't need them. 
• Graze all day. Have fruits handy to keep yourself from reaching out for junk. 
• Get support. Doing things alone make things unnecessarily hard. 
• Beware of saboteurs. You know, those people who belittle your effort or try to get you to eat more.  
• Use small plates or vessels. Watch that portion size! That plate you are looking at could have multiple servings. Three ounces of meat is the size of your palm or a deck of cards. A 4-inch pancake is a CD.
• Get plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation increases the hunger hormone and decreases the hormone that makes you feel full.