Divide Your Snacks into Single Servings

If you are looking for ways to cut calories, pay more attention to your daily caloric intake. Consider reducing mindless snacking by dividing up snacks and desserts into single serving sizes or smaller. You'll need to get your hands on some Tupperware or re-usable/eco-friendly snack bags for storage.

List of Cardio Exercises to Help You Lose Weight

Here is a list of cardio exercises that will raise your heart rate and metabolism while controlling your appetite, boosting your energy levels, and helping you drop excess weight.

1. Running
2. Jogging
3. Power walking
4. Walking
5. Bicyling
6. Water Aerobics
7. Swimming
8. Ball sports
9. Martial Arts
10. Elliptical, stair climbing, treadmill, and cycling machines
11. Jump rope
12. Aerobic dance
13. Club dancing

These exercises are fabulous for weight loss and they are so fun to do. Grab a buddy to work out with, go work out solo, or find some great Exercise DVDs to get you motivated. To maintain interest and motivation, mix up your work outs! Do 3 or more of these cardio work outs every week.

Sweet potato chips

Looking for an alternative to traditional potato chips? Consider purchasing or baking sweet potato chips. Sweet potatoes taste delicious when baked and even better when made into chips. These potatoes are high in vitamin A, low in fat, and low in calories!

Look for sweet potato chips your grocery store's chip/snack aisle!

Strength Train to Increase Your Metabolism

So you have motivated yourself to work out daily. Congratulations!

Don't forget to include strength training in your work out routine. Including strength training will increase your muscle mass, which will increase your metabolism. New to strength training? Gradually add strength training/weight bearing exercises to your cardio. Start with 1 to 2 days per week and work up to 3 to 5 days per week. Also, avoid working the same muscle group(s) on consecutive days.

Milk and Dairy Alternatives

If you're wanting to get your daily dose of milk, but suffer from lactose intolerance, consider getting your hands on a carton of lactose free milk. Lactose free milk, like Lactaid brand allows individuals with lactose intolerance to consume dairy without the negative physical consequence (ex. diarrhea, constipation, stomach cramps, nausea, bloating, etc.).

If you choose to avoid dairy products altogether, consider soy milk. Soy milk still contains protein, calcium and vitamin D. You can find Soy milk, soy cheese, or soy meat products at your local grocery store or health food store. If you have concerns about consuming soy, talk to your health professional.

Should dairy and soy be the wrong products for you, take a look at almond milk or rice milk. Today, you can find non-dairy and non-soy milk, cheese and meat products coming from almond, vegetable, wheat, or rice product. Talk to a dietitian, nutritionist, or physician for more information.

Use Smaller Dishes (Especially for Dessert)

Use smaller eating utensil, plates, bowls and saucers to keep tabs on your portion sizes. This is key if you look forward to dessert every night. Grabbing a smaller cup for your ice cream dessert may mean the difference between weight loss and weight gain by year's end.

Snack and Still Lose Weight

Many times, when we think of dropping some pounds we automatically consider giving up snacks. While giving up high fat, high calorie, sugary or too-salty snacks are wise, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't nibble on a lil somethin' between meals.

Snacking Tips:
Consider purchasing healthier alternatives to the snacks you crave or love. If you love crunchy foods, purchase baby carrots and light ranch dressing. If you love salty, grab a handful of lightly salted nuts. If you love sweet tasting foods, take a bite out of some delicious fruit or a piece of dark chocolate. Also, consider a peanut butter sandwich using low calorie whole wheat bread. Just grab a couple slices of the low cal. bread, spread on 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and you've got a snack that has staying power. You'll fight off the hunger bug, feel more energetic and satisfied!

Notes: Limit yourself to around 3 snacks per day depending on your level of hunger and your energy needs.

It is OK to give into your naughty-snack cravings on ocassion...just make sure that you note the number of calories, fat, and sodium in the food.