It’s one of the most common New Year’s resolutions: to lose weight. It’s easier said than done. While you start out with the best intentions, sometimes the thought of spending hours in the gym or giving up all your sweets is just too overwhelming. What you need isn’t a drastic overhaul of your lifestyle, but rather a few simple steps that will get you the results you want.

Here are some tips to help get you feeling better and in the best shape. Whether you pick just one tip or a few, you’ll be making steps to a healthier you!

Drink a large glass of water before each meal. Some say it works, some say it doesn’t, but by filling part of your stomach with water right before you eat, you can reduce your chances of overeating during a meal. Regardless, drinking water is healthy for your body functions including converting fat into usable energy. 

Walk or jog in the A.M. Wake up early and lace up your sneakers! Even if you take a 15-minute walk, it can contribute to weight loss. Take a walk – or run – around the block. Take it up a notch by adding on extra minutes every few weeks. What does this add up to? Weight loss!

Kick up your workouts with circuit training. If you’re stuck in an exercise rut – the same weight, the same reps, the same order – then it’s time to change your routine! Circuit training is easy: start by doing one set of an exercise, then move on to do one set of a second exercise and so on. Once you complete every exercise once, start again from the beginning! An extra: burn even more calories by adding five minutes of cardio in between each set (e.g. bike, treadmill, rower). 

Go green…and red and yellow! Load up your plate with veggies! From tomatoes to lettuce, vegetables are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. Plus they are high in fibre, which makes them filling. 

Don’t eat three hours before bed. You had dinner, but a few hours later, you’re reaching for that snack. By not eating three hours before bed, you can reduce fat storage throughout the night. So if you go to bed at 11 P.M., try not to eat past eight P.M. 

Think over those seconds. It might be tempting to go for that second serving. Your body tells you when you’re satisfied. However, it takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to deliver the message to your brain that you’ve eaten enough. So try to wait that 20 minutes and chances are, your brain will get the “full” message and you will save on calories!

Eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast is something many of us do – and it’s not good! Studies show that people who eat breakfast are more likely to control their weight. So make sure you eat something – whether it’s fruit and yogurt, cereal or oatmeal – and start your morning the right way.

Follow these steps and you’ll have a healthier year – and healthier you!