Slight to morbid obesity does not only compromise physical health; it can also affect emotional health. If extra weight affects you, you can make the decision to make a change. This article will show you a few healthy and proven tips to combat the extra pounds and become a healthier, happier you.

Skipping meals is a bad habit. If you skip a meal, you will make choices that are not good for your weight loss, as you will be tempted to eat more. It seems like skipping meals would be beneficial when trying to lose weight, but it is actually counter-productive.

Try ridding your diet of red meat to lose weight. These are very high in bad fats and cholesterol, which are not heart healthy. Rather than choosing red meats, consider lean proteins such as fish and fowl.

Do not buy overly tempting junk foods foods and put them in the house. For example, don't bring home muffins, that way you won't have to decide whether or not to eat them. Keep plenty of healthy foods in your house. This way, when you're hungry you will reach for a healthy snack. For example, keep a veggie tray with your favorite veggies and some crackers made of whole grain to eat when you want a quick snack.

Take measures to reduce your caffeine intake. Studies show that caffeine tends to slow down your metabolism.

Ask one of your friends to be your exercise buddy. This helps you to socialize so that you are having fun while burning calories. Also, your partner and yourself can have a nice chat as you workout. More than likely this will lead to you enjoying your time exercising and even looking forward to it, and pretty soon you won't even realize you're losing weight.

Always be sure to eat breakfast every day. You might be tempted to grab a doughnut or another unhealthy breakfast if you do not have time to prepare a good breakfast. These are often not very nutritional. Oatmeal and fruit are great alternatives to have in the morning if you need a quick bite to eat.

If you frequently eat while distracted, you will surely gain weight. Mindless eating can result in hundreds of extra calories in your diet and, because you're not paying attention, it isn't satisfying either. Being observant about how much you ingest will result in lower intake.

You should try walking up short flights of stairs if you want to lose weight. Instead of taking the elevator, go up the stairs to burn some more calories. You may be surprised how much this can help.

Examine the dishes that you eat and cut them in half when you are dieting. With larger dishes, you will tend to prepare larger portions without realizing it. Your meal should fit within a 9-inch plate. If your plate is any bigger, then your plate is too big.

Try using a pedometer to calculate how many steps you are taking each day when trying to shed some pounds. You should be taking at least 10,000 steps each day. If you keep track of how many steps you are taking, you can do more by challenging yourself. Each step moves you towards being more fit and reaching your weight loss goal.

When working on weight loss, be sure to take your weight once a week. That way, you can keep tabs on your progress. You can also record your waist size and other vital measurements. This will keep you motivated and makes it more likely that you will continue.

You will have to be determined and dedicated if you want to lose weight. These qualities are hard for many people to find. If you use the advice from this article, you can find a method that will best help you to lose weight.