Making changes in the lifestyle and diet to help lose extra pounds needn’t be torture. Even making the smallest changes in the diet and increase daily activity can have a very positive impact over the long-term, and leave you thinner and healthier. Here are seven useful tips to help with weight loss:

Snack smartly

If you do start to feel hungry during the day it is best to satisfy the craving with a healthy snack. This is a lot better than ignoring it and risking a food binge later in the day. A smart snack choice can include a small bowl of Edamame, 1 tbsp of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a protein snack like string cheese.

Use the scales daily

If you step on the scales daily and notice the weight continues to increase, this is a sure sign that you need to cut back on the daily food intake or improve on the regular workouts.

Do bodyweight exercises

A daily five-minute session of bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges and push-ups can help to improve on muscle mass. This is important because it helps to improve on the metabolic rate and increase the ability to lose calories during the day while you are doing your normal activities.

Eat a balanced breakfast

Eat a balanced breakfast in the morning that consists of proteins, carbs and a little fat to help control hunger pains and keep blood sugar levels steady. A great breakfast to keep the hunger pangs away is whole-wheat toast with turkey bacon and egg whites.

Eat more fruit

Eating at least two pieces of fruit per day is great for the body with its low-fat and high water content. This is a great way to fill the stomach and avoids snacking on high calorie alternatives. Even though fruit can contain high carbs, this is the type of carbohydrates that are good for you and contain a lot of healthy fiber.

Get a good night’s sleep

A proper night’s sleep that leaves you refreshed in the morning is reported to be a great benefit to those wishing to control their diet because there is less risk of snacking on poor food choices due to stress or fatigue.

Cut back on alcoholic drinks

Many of the alcoholic drinks are high in calories and often do little to help quench your appetite. Try to limit the alcohol consumption to the weekends or have a drink like vodka and juice, light beer, or a glass of wine. These drinks are likely to have about 100-125 calories per serving.