Say no to crazy fads and complicated diets! Losing weight shouldn’t take over your life or compromise your health.

Instead, to lose 10 pounds focus on these 10 easy steps that are proven effective.

The truth is that losing weight is simpler than you might think. The key is to stay committed to the steps that help you build a healthier lifestyle.

Take things slow and steady, changing your habits to give your body the care it deserves.

Plain water is the best weight loss superfood. It’s completely calorie-free, yet helps you feel full and prevents cravings. Additionally, water flushes toxins from your system, including those that cause bloating and constipation.

A recent study found that adults drinking water before a meal lost 44% more weight during a 12-week period. Drinking water before a meal is one of the best ways to prevent overeating.

Another easy step to lose 10 pounds is to maximize your morning meal with protein! A good breakfast includes healthy protein sources. Think of things like nonfat Greek yogurt, whole eggs or egg whites, or lean turkey.

Research suggests that replacing a grain-based breakfast with a meal of protein and healthy fats helps you eat less throughout the day.

Simple carbs, such as those found in white bread and cereals, metabolize quickly, leaving you starving by lunch time. This makes it more likely that you will overeat or reach for the snack drawer.

On the other hand, fats and proteins are harder to break down. They help you feel fuller for longer.

Snacks help keep your energy levels up and prevent blood sugar dips.

Nevertheless, if you’re making frequent trips to the vending machine at work or school, you could be unknowingly loading up the calories.

Keep healthy food around so that you don’t have to reach for the chips and candy.

The most effective snacking strategy is to prepare nutrient-rich snacks into serving size portions. You can grab-n-go a pack no matter how busy the day gets!

Give your metabolism a major boost with interval-style training. Interval training is incredibly effective when it comes to weight loss.

Incorporate two to three interval workouts in your week and you’ll lose 10 pounds before you even know it!

Interval training is an effective weight loss tool because it keeps your heart rate elevated. It’s great for burning stubborn belly fat.

Additionally, research suggests that you continue to burn calories for up to 24 hours after the workout ends! Not bad at all.

Whether you’re enjoying dinner or noshing mid-afternoon, get out that measuring spoon or cup and measure out the recommended serving size.

When we eyeball portions, we tend to err on the side of extra food.

In fact, a cup of popcorn or chips might be a whole lot smaller than you realize. Don’t be surprised if you’ve been accidentally eating two or three portions at a time.

Measuring your food adds an extra step to your meals, but it’s an easy change that has maximum impact on the waistline. It’s one of the best changes you can make to lose 10 pounds.

Give your body the nutrients it needs to lose weight. Ditch the processed foods! This includes boxed dinners, bagged snacks, and refined grains (I’m looking at you sugary cereal!).

Instead, focus on clean foods filled with nutrients.

Start the day with some whole eggs and veggies. Snack on apples and clementines.

Your body will quickly start feeling more energized.

It’s common for people trying to lose weight to skip meals. The problem is that when your body starves, it starts craving sugary, fatty, calorie-packed foods.

One skipped meal of whole grains and proteins means you might end up doubling the calories at dinner.

We often justify our bad choices, thinking that since we skipped lunch, we can get that milkshake and those extra large garlic fries guilt-free.

When you actually do the math, it turns out your skipped lunch cost you progress.

To maximize weight loss, commit to eating three healthy meals and two nutrient-filled snacks daily. While this might vary from person to person, this general guideline is a good place to start.

You don’t need to break a sweat with a workout to burn calories. Take every chance you can to move your body. Crank out a few sit-ups during a TV commercial rather than staying on the couch, walk to a colleague’s office instead of sending a text, and take the stairs rather than the elevator.

There are several good ways to track your movement throughout the day. Fitness watches are some of the best known. Nevertheless, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get moving. Most smart phones come with pedometers to track your steps. Aim to reach 10,000 steps each day.

Adding weight to exercise forces muscles to work harder. In turn, that burns more calories and raises the metabolism for more efficient fat burn.

Your body uses more calories to maintain muscle than it does to maintain fat tissue. What this means is that two people weighing 150 lb. might not burn the same amount of calories throughout the day. The person with more muscle mass burns more calories.

Increase your muscle mass to raise the number of calories you burn while at rest. It’s the diet-free way to lose weight!