If you've been trying to lose weight for a while, then you've probably tried more than your fair share of diets, including some that are way too good to be true. You know from experience that you can't lose weight by popping a pill or drinking the newest concoction unless you make some changes to your lifestyle. However, those changes don't have to be drastic, and you don't have to give up what you enjoy in order to lose weight.

Calories, Shmalories

You might have tried some of the popular diets, whether low carb, low fat, or high protein, and some or all of them might have worked for you for a while. The weight probably crept back on over time though, didn't it? And it came back because you simply can't eat that way for the rest of your life.

Can you give up your favorite foods for weeks or months at a time? Maybe, if you have a lot of willpower. Can you give them up forever? I'm sure a handful of people can, but those people have more willpower than most of us can ever hope to have. Besides, would you want to give up your favorites permanently? I know I wouldn't.

You see, the concept behind weight loss is simple, even if the process is difficult. If you take in more calories than you use, you gain weight. If you use more than you take in, you lose weight. Forget fad diets and giving up chocolate, bread, fruits, meats, or whatever your latest diet is telling you to avoid.

Control your calories. Lose weight.

That sounds simple, and it can be with a little practice. It won't be easy; no weight loss is truly easy, but knowing that you don't have to give up what you enjoy eating can certainly take away a lot of the pain involved.

Portion control is your key to losing weight without sacrificing taste. You don't need to count calores, unless you'd really like to. You will need to be honest with yourself about how much you're eating on a daily basis.

Let's look at some examples to make things more clear.

Let's say you normally eat a bagel and cream cheese with a glass of orange juice for breakfast, and you just don't want to think about giving that up. You don't need to. Tomorrow morning have half a bagel with cream cheese. Substitute an orange for the orange juice. You've cut your breakfast calories in half, and you're still enjoying food you like.

The same principle applies for lunch and dinner. Instead of two slices of pizza, have one. Then, finish filling up with a salad or some fruit on the side. If you usually go back for second helpings, stick with one helping instead. When you reach for a second serving, take a moment and ask yourself if you're really still hungry, or if you're just reaching for it out of habit. There's a good chance that it's habit and not hunger driving your decision.

Weigh Daily

I know that most diets tell you to weigh weekly, but weighing daily gives you benefits that a weekly weigh-in won't. Knowing that you have to step on the scale tomorrow morning can be a powerful motivator to pass up extra helpings today.

Weighing daily can also allow you to monitor changes in your weight that might surprise and discourage you after a full week has gone by. While it's normal for your weight to fluctuate by even a couple of pounds from day to day, if you see a steady increase in weight each morning, you can make changes to your diet that will prevent weight gain before it gets out of hand.

Seeing a drop in weight gives you immediate feedback and encouragement, and sometimes that small amount of encouragement is enough to keep you on the plan through the tough days.

Get Some Exercise

While you may be able to lose some weight without exercising, you'll lose more and improve your health if you take some time to exercise each day. Again, this doesn't have to be a drastic change to your routine.

Try taking the dog for a longer than usual walk in the evenings. Pull a few weeds by hand instead of using the weed eater. Do a few situps while the commercials are on. Even if you begin by adding just a few minutes of exercise a day to your routine, you'll soon begin to feel and see the difference in yourself.

As an added benefit, as your lose weight and exercise, you'll feel better, which will encourage you to spend more time exercising and pay more attention to your diet. While losing weight isn't easy, it doesn't have to be impossible if you concentrate on making small, doable changes that you can stick with.