We all want to lose weight, we all want to cut down on the amount of calories we're eating, but somehow we always find ourselves getting another serving, getting one more snack from the fridge, eating a little more here and there and blowing our diet plan. How can we exert more control over what we eat? How can we stop ourselves from disrupting our own plans to lose weight? Here are some simple tricks to help us do just that, each seemingly obvious and simple but easily implemented and able to make a big difference in your eating habits.

The first trick is to eat slowly. Sounds like a no brainer, but remember how your digestive system works: your body will decide it needs food and tell your brain you're hungry. You begin to eat, and as your body realizes its full, it tells your brain to stop. However, if you eat too quickly, you will eat more than your body wants or needs, so that by the time your body says stop, you've already eaten twice as much. So chew your food, swallow, enjoy conversation and time with friends around the table, and you will find that you are eating less.

Another great trick is to stop buying junk. Quit thinking you deserve 'treats' or 'rewards' and that this candy bar or that bag of chips will be for a special occasion. The truth is that you will eat them late at night when you're craving junk, and then you'll simply buy more. If you exert some strength at the supermarket and don't even buy the junk food, it will be that much harder to break your diet plan when the time comes for temptation.

Finally, eat regular, small meals throughout the day. If you are systematic about when you eat, and ensure that you only eat regular sized portions, you will find that you are able to exert a lot more control over your diet. If you don't, you'll find that when you grow really hungry you will eat more than you intended, and then feel bloated and tired, and then skip the next meal, and then finally gorge again when you eat. So don't do that!