Losing weight is a balancing act. You have to constantly monitor what you eat and how many calories you take in everyday to achieve your desired weight. You should strive to expend more calories than what you take in. This can be done either through exercise, diet or both. But it's not always easy to find this delicate balance. Sometimes, this can stem from lack of awareness. At other times, it's intentional-- when you just want to munch on those bags of chips or sink your teeth into that donut or just laze in bed.

Finding the golden mean is an important component of weight loss. To make it easier for you to achieve this balance, get support. Individuals trying to get rid of those excess pounds often go through the whole challenge on their own. They don't hold themselves accountable to anyone else. Now, if you really have an iron will, there's really no issue. But let's face it: That kind of resolve is only reserved for the chosen few. It pays to have someone with whom you can talk about your progress and your cravings. Having a support person or group makes resisting temptation all the more easier.

To find the balance so essential to weight loss, go shopping with a list and only when you're full. This is where most go wrong. It's so easy to grab anything from the grocery shelves when you go grocery shopping unprepared. And when you go there hungry, you're bound to pick anything-- usually pastries, breads or chocolates-- to appease your growling stomach. Avoid this by planning everything beforehand. Have your list itemized and stick with it, buying only the foods that are approved in your healthy diet plan. Eat beforehand so you're not tempted to buy some empty-calorie snack that will leave you full but your waistline bulging.

Watch labels and don't take everything you read at face value. Sure, it's advisable to get "low fat" or "non fat" versions of foodstuffs, but don't think that low fat is also low in calories. Most products make their low fat products taste better by adding more sugar than what is really necessary. Read food labels carefully and buy those that don't tilt the scale too much one way or the other. As in your weight loss efforts, look for a balance of fats, sugars and other nutrients in any food you buy. If you stick to more natural options like fruits and vegetables, you'll have less or no headaches about this matter since Nature has put all the proper proportions into everything she makes. It is only when we mere mortals start altering what Mother Nature has made that problems arise.

Finally, take stock of your physical activity. If walking is your chosen regimen and you have a pedometer attached to your waist, for example, log in the number of steps you have taken for that particular day. This way, you know when to increase your numbers and by how much. This goes for any workout you do. When you keep yourself informed of your progress, you know when your performance has dipped and can compensate for it.