10 Steps for Fast Weight Loss

Learn quick diet tips that work to get your weight under control. Are you clothes too tight? Is it hard to bend over to tie your shoes? Or is it just feeling out of shape and tired all the time?

Here's 10 diet tricks that will help you lose weight fast whether you're following a low fat, vegetarian or low carb diet.

10 Easy Tips for Fast Weight Loss

1. Avoid Temptation. Set yourself up for success by avoiding high calorie foods. Don't keep junk food snacks in the house. Avoid the dessert and bakery aisle at the grocery store. Avoid sugary drinks for 14 days and work up to 30 or 60 days.

2. Anticipate Diet Cheats. If you're going on a cruise or your grandparent's 50th anniversary party then plan your food choices. Cruise lines and restaurants often have menus online. Check what's available and plan ahead. If you'll be at someone's home

3. Avoid Alcohol. If you're going to your cousin's wedding wedding plan ahead what you'll eat and how much you'll drink. Avoid alcohol if possible (except for the toast to the bride and groom!). If you decide to drink alcohol then limit yourself to 2 drinks and drink 1-2 glasses of water or diet soda in between.

4. Make Exercise Fun. Your workout doesn't have to be boring. How about a morning game of singles tennis? Try 20-30 minutes of a new exercise or Wii Active game? Get your kids involved and play a quick game of soccer or basketball. A 2 mile walk after dinner only takes 30 minutes. Visit a big weekend flea market or swap meet and walk the whole thing. It's easy to make exercise fun if you look!

5. The Latte Factor. Stop spending $5 a day on high calorie speciality coffee drinks at Starbucks, Coffee Bean or your favorite neighborhood shop. Not only will you save $150 a month, you'll also save 300-800 calories per beverage! That simple change can help you lose 2-8 pounds in 1 month.

6. Build a Smart Plate. Make it a habit to load your plate 1/2 with salad vegetables and dark leafy greens. Then 1/4 with lean protein and 1/4 with a starch like potatoes, rice or pasta. Choose low fat salad dressing or the new salad spritzers to cut fat calories.

7. Cut Fat Calories. Rethink the high calorie high fat foods you eat. Find low calorie substitutes. Use mustard instead of mayonnaise. Add a half slice of low fat cheese instead of a full slice of regular cheese. Consider a sugar substitute like stevia instead of sugar. Pick a nonfat creamer instead of heavy cream. Make your own fruit sorbet for dessert instead of full fat ice cream. Use salad spritzers which are 1 calorie per spray instead of 200 calories of regular salad dressing.

8. Eat Out With a Plan. In restaurants build your meal with a large mixed greens salad, then split an entree or appetizer with your dinner companion. If dining alone ask the waiter to divide the portion in half and bag it "to go" before serving. This way you avoid food temptation. Ask the waiter to remove bread, rolls or tortilla chips from the table immediately. Out of sight out of mind.

9. The best success comes with a support system. Choose a diet where you'll get the support you need. Online diet websites often have forums or communities where you'll make new friends. They will be working toward the same goal as you: achieving a healthy fit body. There are diet support groups like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) that offer weekly meetings for support and encouragement.

10. Make Fast Food a Special Treat. Most of fast food choices are high calorie and high fat. Promise yourself not to eat at fast food restaurants more than once per week. Plan ahead and choose food that will help your weight loss. If the family is going out for pizza, try choosing a large mixed salad with grilled chicken and enjoy one slice of thin crust cheese pizza. Drink a glass of iced water before eating.

11. Change Your Lifestyle. A diet isn't a short term solution to obesity. You became overweight from poor food choices and inactivity. Promise to make your new food habits a lifestyle change. High nutrient foods, daily activity, daily multivitamin and time for relaxation and sleep are key tips for permanent weight control. Lose weight and keep it off!