If you’re hoping to lose fat, there is a pretty good chance you have tried a lot of methods. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who are unhappy with their bodies don’t succeed in their fat loss goals. That’s because they’re often using gimmicky weight loss plans that can actually damage their bodies! If you’re in this boat, and you don’t know how to get rid of the fat while staying healthy, here are a few fat loss tips that might get you on the right track.

Figure out how you got here. You may need to learn to eat better, or you may need to overcome problems that are encouraging you to eat. Whether it’s a lifestyle change or an emotional problem, you may need to do something about it to encourage fat loss. There may even be a hormonal problem that’s responsible for your weight – to find out, you’ll need to talk to a competent doctor who doesn’t have prejudices against you. Once you know what circumstances have caused your gain, you can deal with the problem more easily.

Be willing to be in control of your food. That means not allowing friends and family to convince you that just one won’t hurt, and it also means paying attention to restaurant food. However, most of all it means not letting food be in charge. Instead of trying severe diet and exercise plans, look for a sustainable option that will result in the best long term physical and mental health. After all, being thin is only one part of being healthy.

Eat frequent meals. Skipping meals and eating irregularly can do strange things to your metabolism. Instead of eating a few big meals each day, consume multiple smaller ones. Every two to three hours is usually good timing for most people. Your metabolism will keep working throughout the day, instead of going through a series of ups and downs. Watch out for snack foods, though. Even though they’re high in fat, it can be much better to snack on nuts than it is to grab a sugary, processed treat out of the vending machine.

Take your time. Eating more slowly and allowing yourself to savor the food does two things. It allows your body to tell you more readily when you’re full, and it helps you satisfy your appetite. After all, if you’re eating quickly, the taste of the food may not register at all.

Don’t make huge changes. Many fat loss diets want you to eat totally unfamiliar foods or make big changes in your lifestyle. Those are pretty hard to maintain, and can be frustrating. Instead, start out with small, manageable changes in what you’re already doing. Once you have been doing them for long enough that they have become a habit, you can move to other healthy changes. Never starve yourself – that can actually make matters worse by lowering your metabolism.

Avoid processed foods. Whole grains, veggies, and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet, as is lean protein. If you usually eat a lot of refined carbohydrates and fatty animal protein, you may have trouble maintaining your weight. You may also be at risk for diabetes, heart disease, and many other ailments. A more rounded diet featuring more vegetable sources, less refined carbohydrates, and more protein is an important key to any diet plans.

Remember to hydrate. Water, unsweetened teas, and other relatively calorie free beverages that provide good hydration (diet beverages often have caffeine, which can reduce their hydrating ability) are a must. You’ll feel fuller, your body will be able to keep itself cleansed, and the flavor of teas and similar drinks keeps you from having cravings.