Lots of the reasons people have more weight on their bodies than they want, have to do with the habitual behaviors they developed as they were growing up. Other reasons have to do with the habitual choices they learned to make when they were young adults, maybe at school or in the military.



Often, those habits, even though might have been perfect for the time we learned them, don't seem to be helping us so much now. And if you are overweight to the extent that you are online to learn about solutions to reduce your weight, then it is probably due, in part at least, to the routines you already have.



It is time for a change.



First guideline is to stop taking note of people who say that habits are difficult to break. Unnecessary eating to the point of gaining extra weight is not in the same category as being addicted to cocaine. It is possible that for a very few people, food is actually an addiction in their lives. However in truth, that is not very many people.



Most times, it is a matter of learning to make some new habits.



Habit Change #1



Stop eating in front of the TV. And no, don't even eat there if the television is not turned on. Go some other place in your house where the television is not. If you have a television in every room in your house, that might be a different issue, and if that is the case, just keep it turned off.



Second part to habit change number 1. Don't go surfing while you are eating your meal. Not the laptop, not the desktop, not your phone, tablet or anything. If anything, the internet is more addicting than the TV set. As a matter of fact if you are reading this while you are eating, start with that. Go away until you are finished eating and then return to read the rest of this article.



The goal is to focus on what and how you are eating. And it is very hard to pay attention to your food while your mind is far away in the television or in a funny cat video. The television will be there when you're done and so will the world wide web. They are not going anywhere. And if you pay attention to what you're eating, you will eat less of it.



Part of the reason is that you are going to be taking note when your stomach says it is full. And that is a great time to stop eating. It is quite amazing how much less you will eat when you eat meals this way. Just eat, don't do anything else.



You are important and your health is important and your weight is important. And being attentive counts a lot.



Habit Change #2



Stop drinking your calories.



Decide on water as your drink with your meals. Do not choose diet beverages or energy drinks or even milk. Simply drink water or maybe a cup of tea with nothing in it. There are countless delicious teas in the world. And choosing one of those to drink with your meal is a calorie free way to add some extra enjoyment to your life at mealtime.



Artificially sweetened drinks are never thirst satisfying and are often seen as a punishment. The idea is something like you really would like a soda, but since I am on this horrible diet at least I can have a diet soda. Don't do it. Just drink water.



These types of habit changes can make a large difference in the quantity of calories you consume during the course of a day. And by just making these small modifications in your habits, you will feel better and look better and your body will thank you.