Dieting has never been a new word to almost anybody who is, should we say, overweight. They may have even tried all sorts of dieting before. To some, it may be sort of upsetting to learn that they can go without food for a while only to find out that they would go back to their old habits of overeating as soon as the familiar urge comes back. Dieting is often associated with starving or fasting and oftentimes it does not do any permanent good at all. The only answer to this pressing problem is a completely renewed pattern of living. Here are a few simple steps to get you started:

Eat regularly but take in smaller quantities of food. Your meals should be smaller than the usual. Continue to take in a balanced diet but try to cut out on fat and sugar. Foods rich in fat and sugar are too high in calories. You can still enjoy food without them. At the same time, be sure to include whole-grain cereals, enriched breads and reasonable amounts of potatoes in your diet. These are essential to health. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar such as ice cream, pastries, rich desserts and candy. You can even replace them with healthier, low fat foods. For instance, instead of eating ice cream, try a low fat fruit yogurt, fruit ices or fruit whips made with egg whites instead. Try angel food cakes in place for rich desserts or pastries. Replace candy with fresh or dried fruits. Use low-calorie dressings for your salads.

Do not nibble in between meals. Train yourself to get along with less food. You will feel better once you overcome those urges and you will enjoy living on a reduced diet. Be careful about leftovers. This is common especially for housewives who hate to see their food to be thrown out. That is why they put on weight because they opt to eat the leftovers rather than throw them out. The solution? Prepare less food to control the problem of leftovers.

Do not go hungry for long. Do not starve yourself. Eat regularly but sparingly. Teach yourself to take in less food. Soon you will learn to enjoy your new way of living.

Sensible exercise should always come with dieting. It will help burn out those extra calories. The best exercise for starters is walking and gradually progressing to other exercise schemes.

Start your day right with a good breakfast. Have a hearty breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day as it will carry you through the day. With a good breakfast, you can be less tempted to nibble on snacks in between meals.

Use these foods freely - lettuce, greens, tomatoes, celery, and carrots. These foods are all low in calories but are rich in vitamins and minerals. If ever you get the urge of having something, try these foods instead to ward off hunger.

A final word - once you get to decide on losing weight, make sure you stay there! Maintain this new way of life and it is guaranteed that you will soon learn to accept and enjoy this new you.