Over the last five months, I’ve lost 23 pounds, and I plan on continuing to lose more. I managed to achieve such significant weight loss by making some simple changes to my lifestyle and moving towards a healthier outlook. This is the largest amount of weight I’ve lost at one time, and it’s also the longest amount of time I’ve stuck with a single diet, so I’m quite proud of myself.

So what have I been doing differently? It’s easier to stick to a healthier lifestyle this time because I can really feel the changes making a difference in my quality of life. I believe that this positive reinforcement will help me stay dedicated to this lifestyle for some time to come. Here are a few of the fundamental concepts that I’ve incorporated into my new, healthy lifestyle.

To begin with, I’ve cut artificial sugars out of my diet completely. Cane sugar is off-limits as well, so the only sugar I’m eating is coming from fruits and vegetables.

High fructose corn syrup is first on the list of sweeteners that I make sure to avoid. Many believe that this substance can lead to weight gain as well as diabetes.

Cutting out this sweetener sounds easy until you realize how many common foods in which it can be found. Check the nutrition labels of your bread and ketchup, and you might just find high fructose corn syrup among the list of ingredients.

Exercising regularly has also helped me stick with my diet. It took some time for my body to adjust to the frequency, but I now run five days a week and striving to run longer distances in shorter times. Aside from the obvious benefit of burning calories, running also keeps me feeling great.

Lastly, I’ve stopped drinking diet sodas. I’ve been seeing more and more research suggesting that they can actually be quite counterproductive for people trying to lose weight, even though they typically contain less than 5 calories.

It’s believed that the sweeteners are diet sodas actually fool your brain into thinking that you’ve just consumed a large quantity of sugar. When this happens, it causes your body to store fat in the same way that it does after a large intake of sugar. It’s always a good bet to choose a glass of water over a diet soda, even if it seems to be harmless.

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Everybody hates the word ‘diet’. It makes you think of pain and misery. It is definitely hard to keep your will power to stay on a diet during the holidays.

But it’s not all horrible. There are numerous ways to lose pounds speedily without it being painful and it is a lot easier than one might think – if you know what you’re doing.

Here are the top nine tricks to staying slim in 2009.

1. Water So many people avoid drinking simple water, yet it’s one of nature’s best ways to clean out your body at the same time as helping to shed those pounds. Drinking enough water doesn’t have to be difficult. Simply drink a glass of water before each meal or snack and you’ll suddenly find you’re rehydrated, feeling less bloated and you’re suddenly less tempted to reach for the sugary snacks.

2. Fiber Fiber gives another opportunity to help you lose weight and make you feel full at the same time. By adding fiber to your diet, you can actually reduce and get rid of awful hunger pangs. Foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and beans will increase your intake of fiber, making you feel full faster and lose weight faster too!

3. Snacks Dieting does not mean going without food. You should feel free to snack whenever you are hungry. Your metabolism will increase just by eating more. Be careful however, of the types of snacks that you choose to eat. It’s always okay to eat nuts and fruit; you can also add a snack size tub of yogurt or baked rice crispies. When it comes to snacking, just be careful about the snacks you choose to eat.

4. Walk Take every opportunity to walk. Take the stairs at work instead of using the elevator. Park in the back of the parking lot at the store and walk the long distance. Stroll around the neighborhood with your dog, or with a friend. You can also switch on your stereo at home and walk around your house!

5. Grill it up Switch from frying foods to grilling them, order grilled when you go out to eat. Grilling is easier than and just as tasty as frying. It’s healthier and has fewer calories than fried foods.

6. Side Dishes We’ve been trained over the years to believe that meals aren’t complete without fries on the side. Replace fries with a simple salad or with some steamed vegetables.

7. Processed Foods Pre-packaged ham or chicken slices are quick and convenient to have in the fridge, but they contain high levels of salt. Salt helps your body to retain fluid and makes it harder for you to shed those pounds. Avoid pre-packaged processed foods wherever you can and replace with fresh options.

8. Keep It Lean You can still eat red meat or poultry, just be sure to buy the leanest cuts you can find. Trim off any excess fat and remove the skin from chicken and then grill your meat to keep the goodness in and the fat levels down.

9. Meal Replacement Meal replacement diets can be a very handy way to shed pounds quickly. Simply replace your normal lunches with a great replacement shake so you’re still getting all the nutrients you need without all the calories to go with it.

Follow these simple tricks and you’ll be surprised with the results.

Author Dorthy Weatherbush helps everyday people lose pounds and keep them off through exercise regimes and diet programs like Medifast to trim unwanted pounds. Read Dorthy’s review of the Medifast weight loss plan.