Weight loss is a big topic today. Almost everywhere you go (grocery store, internet, book stores, malls) there are reading materials available regarding the subject. Everyone you speak to has some sort of weight loss tip. For a world full of tips it is startling the number of obese people that reside in it. Weight loss is a serious topic but the ability to manage ones weight takes more than some fast diet pill or quick miracle exercise routine. Dieting success is a lifestyle change and this change for most people is difficult. Here is a list of tips for dieting success, most of which you will discover are lifestyle changes. Not only will you look healthier and lose weight but you will feel better if you follow these tips.

1. Portions are growing in the world today. At one time you could go out to a restaurant and eat a meal half the size of what we see today. This is a result of marketing and restaurants wanting to increase their customer base. Even the plate sizes have moved from large plates to platters. It's not your fault that your meals have grown to double their proportions but if you continue to eat these size meals your stomach will also grow. Tip number one is to reduce your portion size. The general rule of thumb is that you should be eating a meal the size of two of your fists. This is a good way to measure your portions if you do not want to use measuring utensils. Reducing your food intake per meal will help you lose weight.

2. On the other side of tip one is tip two. You should be eating 3-5 small meals a day. Start by reducing your portions and then increase your meals daily. The theory behind this tip is that if you eat throughout the day you will increase your metabolism because you will be digesting food more often.

3. This tip has to do with your bodies make up. Over 70% of your body is made of water. Do you drink enough water to replenish what you lose on a daily basis? Did you know that drinking water can help flush fat cells from your body before they have the chance to go to the storage units on your hips, thighs and stomach. It is recommended that you drink 8 glasses of water a day. This will help you flush your body and keep it working in it's optimal zone.

4. When you drink water make sure the water is very cold. This seems like a small detail but it has a large effect. If you drink cold water as opposed to warm water your body will need to restart it's metabolism because it needs to bring your body back into homeostasis (your body's balance).

5. Cleanses: There are many cleanses on the market today. You should start with a digestive tract cleanse. A very natural and great starting cleanse is the Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet). Once you have cleansed the digestive tract start looking at the food you eat. Do you eat a lot of breads and wheats? You should perform a candida cleanse to rid your body of the excess yeast you are probably carrying around. Do you eat a lot of fish? If so, you may want to consider a heavy metal cleanse to rid your body of possible mercury. Perform a cleanse than take a break, if you feel you need to do another wait a couple of weeks before starting on the next one. This gives your body a chance to find balance.

A tip about cleanses is to stay away from cleanses that promise whole body. Pick an area to cleanse and work on that one first.

6. Now that you have started analyzing your food you will want to make sure you are eating a balanced diet. This is not only important to give you the necessary nutrients you need but also to help you avoid eating too much of the wrong foods. If you are eating red meat every night you may want to change one night to vegetarian, one to fish and one to poultry for the week. If you are eating bread and some type of macaroni every night you are probably getting too many starches.

7. Hidden calories. You hear that phrase all the time in the diet world. Unfortunately there are many hidden calories in the food we eat today. Salad dressing is a killer. Instead of putting dressing on your salad try lemon juice or salsa. On potatoes you are thinking you are eating vegetables, but potatoes have starch and then you place butter, sour cream, and cheese on the potato and any good you thought you did out of eating that vegetable is gone. Try putting salt and pepper and salsa on your potatoes, it is extremely good tasting and good for you.

8. PH Balance. So you have learned to eliminate too much of certain food groups to find a balance and identify hidden calories in your food. Now you need to recognize the way food effects you when you digest it. Either the food leaves an acidic or alkaline ash behind when digested. This ask affects the make up of your bodies PH Balance. PH Balance should be about 7.25-7.85% in a body to be healthy. This is slightly alkaline. A great tip is to go to a store like "Whole Foods" and buy PH Balance test strips. Test yourself in the morning. If you are below 7% you want to figure out what is making you acidic and reduce this food. Your body has better balance in the alkaline range.

9. A great product to help you lose weight and rebuild your general health is Apple Cider Vinegar. Take this sour liquid daily (2 tablespoons in water), it helps increase your alkaline balance in your body and aids in digestion which can help with weight loss. This liquid has many other health benefits.

10. Don't give up. If you have made it this far you have made many changes and change is hard to maintain. You could have a relapse and binge on something that does not help your weight loss. It's okay and it happens to the best of people. It is important to pick yourself back up and start the regimen again. Don't let this become a major set back but allow it to sink in that you had a minor one and it is ok. A great way to help you on your road to success with your dieting plan is to have a journal or create a blog. Write in this daily to help you watch your emotional progress as well.

11. Exercise is important and you should get exercise daily (5 out of 7 days a week is preferable). Make a plan to do cardio on Monday (this can be as simple as heavy cleaning of the house or walking around the block to as vigorous as an hour run on the treadmill), weight training on Tuesday, abdominal and back strength training on Wednesday, cardio on Thursday, and weight training on Friday. Breaking your days up adds variety and also allows muscle groups to heal before you start working on them again.

12. Don't leave weight training out. Weight training is very important, it helps to tighten up your areas as you burn the fat and most importantly it burns calories when you are not working out. Weight training tears muscle to rebuild new, this act causes your metabolism to work even when your body is at rest because it is creating new cells.

13. Stretching is super important. Most people don't stretch before or after their work out. This causes excess strain on their body and can cause injury. A leg injury can put a person out of their work out routine for at least a week. This can have major set backs on your psyche and to your dieting success.

14. Now you have created some great habits in diet and exercise. As mentioned before these are lifestyle changes and you will continue these throughout your dieting plan and beyond. You have achieved a base range now it is important to se up some goals. Where do you want to be in 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. Set realistic goals and get your family involved in helping you reach these goals.

15. Set up a reward system for achieving your incremental goals. People are more motivating in achieving a goal when they have set up a reward. Maybe you get to go out to a fancy dinner or you get a day at the spa or hair salon. Whatever the reward is make sure that you deliver your reward when you achieved that goal.

16. Research, did you know that there are some free websites available on line that you can use to set up a diet plan, exercise plan, nutrition plan, weight loss goals and communities that are there to help you through those tough times? A great one is http://www.sparkpeople.com Check out this site and others and find the one that works for you.

17. Supplements: Do take a multi vitamin DO NOT take diet pills. These may get quick results and they may not, but once you start taking them you will find you need to stay on them or they have negative effects on your body.

18. If you drink coffee eliminate the sugar and milk and drink it straight. This is a great diuretic. Another great diuretic is green tea. Many people have stopped drinking sodas and substituted coffee or green tea and have had amazing results. Some people have lost 10 pounds just eliminating sodas.

19. Have a strong support system. Make your family aware of what you are doing you can even include them in some things like hiking together. Regardless of what they do or don't do with you, you need them to support you in your choices to create a successful dieting plan.

20. Enjoy what you are doing. Make the most of every aspect of this plan and you will find great success.

It is scientifically proven that it takes the average adult 21 days to form a habit so take these tips in increments as well and no matter how unhappy you are about doing the task you have scheduled motivate yourself to do each of these for at least 21 days. You will find as you reach day 15 and on that the change you are making to your habits will become easier and you won't have to push so hard to make yourself do the task.

In all changes in diet and exercise make sure you consult a doctor and make them aware of what you are doing. It is important to partner with medical professionals on changes like this to avoid possible complications.