Lots of the reasons people have more weight on their bodies than they really want, have to do with the persistent behaviors they developed as they were being raised. Other reasons relate to the routine choices they learned to make when they were young adults, maybe at college or in the military.



Many times, those habits, despite the fact that might have been ideal for the time we learned them, aren't helping us so much now. And if you are overweight to the degree that you are on the web to learn about solutions to reduce your bodyweight, then it is probably due, in part at least, to the routines you already have.



Its time for something new.



First rule is to stop paying attention to people who say that habits are difficult to break. Eating too much to the point of gaining excess weight is not in the same category as being totally hooked on cocaine. It is possible that for a very few people, food is actually an addiction in their lives. But 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 as you're watching TV. And no, don't even eat there if the television is not turned on. Go someplace else 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. Do not 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 addictive than the TV. As a matter of fact if you are looking over 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 pay attention to what and how you are eating. And it is very hard to pay attention to your meal while your mind is far away in the television or in a funny cat video. The television will be there when you are 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 will be paying attention when your stomach says it is full. And that's a great time to stop eating. It is quite amazing how much less you'll eat when you eat meals this way. Just eat, don't do anything else.



You are important and your wellbeing is important and your weight is important. And taking note counts a lot.



Habit Change #2



Stop drinking your calories.



Choose 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 hundreds of 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 awful 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 throughout 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.