For me, I just finally realized that dieting isn't a punishment when you do it right, but holding yourself accountable to only eat what your body can use without putting on weight.

Also, I told my doctor that I was trying to do better by avoiding pop and only getting a sandwich (not the meal with fries) when I do eat out. He pointed out that even just the sandwich can be 800+ calories, and that fast food isn't always "filling".

I started actually paying attention to the calories I ate and realized you can eat a tremendous amount of fruit (melons, strawberries, grapes), vegetables (zucchini, broccoli, green beans, asparagus), and lean meats (chicken, turkey, fish) in a day without going over your suggested daily calorie intake.

It's all about making better choices in what you consume.

Also, pop and condiments can get quickly add up in a day. Remember, for barbecue sauces and salad dressings, a single portion of only 2 tablespoons. You can easily scarf down 800 calories in salad dressing and not even realize it and that stuff isn't filling whatsoever.