1. Always carry a bottle full of water with cucumber, mint, or lemon and stevia! Drink your water all day long. Drink it instead of expensive coffee or espresso drinks. Drink it instead of coffee, tea, or sodas. Think about how much money you will be saving at the same time you cut down on caffeine, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and expensive bottled drinks. Even if you don't drink your own water every time, you will still be cutting back on these things every time you do! Look at it as "one drink at a time." Keep trying.

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2. Reduce your intake of animal products. You don't have to go vegan or vegetarian 100% of the time. Just cut back on meat, chicken, and animal flesh, and reduce your intake of dairy or other animal products. If you don't cook, get online and find some healthy food options. Look for vegan or vegetarian restaurants and try them out! Just because you try one or two vegan or vegetarian meals doesn't mean you have to declare your food intentions to the world.

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3. Get enough sleep. Did you know that when you don't get enough sleep your hormones and other brain chemicals go out of balance, causing you to feel hungry or have cravings? You are much more likely to binge or eat refined junk food, sugar, or processed foods when you are tired. Just get some rest!

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4. Chew your food at least 30 times per bite. Take this suggestion as a challenge. It is really difficult to chew your food more than a few times when you are hungry. Start by counting how many times you chew your food. It's almost embarrassing to realize that you are wolfing down food with just a few chews. Be conscious of what you are eating, slow down, chew your bites, and be thankful for your food. Your brain takes 20 minutes to realize that you are full, and this will allow you eat less before your brain signals you are full.

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5. Don't eat when you are not hungry, and stop eating when you are full. Just because it is mealtime doesn't mean you have to have a full three-course meal. If you are not very hungry, have a light snack, a bowl of soup, or a piece of fruit. When you are full, stop eating. If you are at a restaurant take home leftovers in a carry-out box. Just because your mother forced you to finish everything on your plate as a child doesn't mean you have to continue this unhealthy practice for the rest of your life, especially if it is escorting you into overweight or obesity.

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These 5 suggestions should allow you to start reducing your weight fairly easily. Pick one item per day for the next five days and make them a part of your routine. After a few weeks, send me a message and let me know about your progress.