If you want to lose weight, here are some important keys to succeeding that I share with my clients.

*Fiber is in whole grains, nuts, beans, and every fresh fruit or vegetable and helps with digestion and removal of waist but is also a key to making you feel full and satisfied.

*All of the nutrients that we need come from plants and animals, not a laboratory. Try to avoid artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, and preservatives.

*Processed, empty calorie foods are foods with lots of calories and very few nutrients, i.e. sodas, chips, sweets. It is easy to eat too many of these types of foods because your body is trying to get the nutrients it needs.

*Water is very important to your health. Many times we think we are hungry when our bodies are just dehydrated.

*If we consume too many calories than our bodies can use, no matter the form (carbohydrates, protein, or fats), our bodies will store those calories as fat.

*Dieting to lose weight often has the opposite effect. It is better to make healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle that will last a lifetime.

*Comparing your body to someone else's will only demean you and your health. If you make healthy changes to your life, try not to judge your progress based on how you look to yourself which is often misleading.

*Think before and while you eat: does this food have nutrients that my body needs, or will it harm me? Am I starting to feel full? If so, I need to stop so I don't eat more than my body needs. Am I eating because I am hungry, or am I just bored, sad, anxious, or frustrated?

*If you find that you eat for reasons other than hunger, examine the reasons and try to find healthy ways to deal with your emotions, i.e. talking to a trusted friend, writing in a diary, finding healthy activities that you enjoy doing.

*Believe that you can accomplish your goals.