When trying to lose weight, sometimes success seems as elusive as a best actor Oscar for Pee-wee Herman. Many diets promise unrealistic results, while many set goals that are simply not realistic. Every person is different, his or her lifestyle unique. Metabolisms, budgets, work schedules, food preferences, allergies, and many other factors make it difficult to find the ideal diet. Each person should approach their weight-loss program in a way that works best for them.

Here are some tips and tricks that are more general in nature than found in specific diet plans. In fact, if your personal diet plan never evolves past these general concepts, you should still achieve desirable results.

Soup

Eating a chunky soup instead of a meal can help you lose weight. Soups with large chunks of vegetables, legumes, and especially protein like beef or chicken will satisfy your hunger more quickly than soups that are pureed or creamy. Broth is especially lacking in nutrition, instead providing more flavor and salt.

Peer Programs

A popular way to lose weight is to join a club or group. Jenny Craig and Weightwatchers are nationally known, but local groups are also beneficial. They represent a built-in support system in the form of kindred spirits who share a common goal. Some offer prepared meal plans and even home food delivery.

Baked “Fries”

Almost everyone enjoys the taste of French fries! They are a problem for anyone trying to lose weight. If you must consume French fries, try to bake them. Bake in the oven on a cookie sheet for approximately 10-15 minutes, until crispy.

Avoid Frying

Not only is baking better than frying, but you can also resort to boiling, broiling, and steaming your food. Cooking in oil (frying) may taste great, but it’s the least healthy and most fat-producing means of preparing a meal.

Cardio

Cardiovascular exercises are better that lifting weights for losing unwanted pounds. Weight training is a must for toning certain muscles, but cardio exercise is responsible for burning fat and losing weight. When it comes to weight loss, raising the rate of your heart and respiration are much more helpful as opposed to building muscle mass.

Ice

A good way to displace a diet-busting sugary snack is to suck on a piece of ice. Surprisingly, sometimes all you really crave is something to keep your mouth busy.

Restaurants

You do not need to avoid restaurants completely when you are on a weight loss program. Just know that portions are often very large. You may need to ask the waiter to bring you a take-out container for the remaining half. This can help you to consume an appropriate number of calories while providing you with a meal for the following day. Some restaurants also have “senior portions” – full meals with reduced size portions (at a lower price, too!).

Processed Foods

A tried and true tip to losing weight is to avoid processed foods as much as possible! Some people manage to avoid all processed foods. This may mean more food preparation on your part, as packaged foods are inherently processed. The benefits are tremendous, though. Not only are your foods healthier – higher in fiber and natural ingredients – and they’ll be fresher, too.

Breakfast

One tip that will keep yourself thin and to lose weight would be to have breakfast. It shouldn’t need to be said, but a lot of people believe that if they skip breakfast they can cut back on calories. It might save come calories right then, but skipping breakfast can cause serious cravings by lunch time. You may even hits because you want to avoid.

(Incidental) Exercise

Exercise – that dreaded word! Exercise conjures up visions of sweat, pain, and losing valuable couch potato time. Well guess what? Walking down the snacks aisle at your favoraite supermarket is exercise, too. So is cooking up some barbeque in the back yard, or merely waiting in line for your favorite latte. All action burns calories. In fact, you even burn calories while sleeping. By adding a few extra little activities to your daily life – like parking at the far end of a parking lot, using stairs instead of elevators for one or two flights, walking a bit faster, standing instead of sitting at a bus stop, etc. – you can burn off an extra pound or two each week.

(Actual) Exercise

Part of any weight loss plan should be some actual, formal exercising. It doesn’t have to be much, but at least some form of formalized activity on a regular schedule. Mark it on your calendar and treat it as an appointment with yourself. Every other day, perhaps, for a half hour or less each time. Make it a walk around the block, or some old fashioned calisthenics, or a light workout with some barbells or a kettle bell. It not only burns a few extra calories, but helps tone your muscles and improve your blood circulation.

These are just a few tips and tricks that would fit into any diet regimen. You don’t have to do them all, but it wouldn’t hurt. These are easy enough to have little or no impact on your daily schedule or way of life, yet may result in melting away several extra pounds.