Next up are some behavior modifications that will help you get -- and stay -- focused on losing weight and taking care of yourself.

1.KEEP A FOOD DIARY.

There is no better tool for weight management. Keeping a food journal consistently will show you your trouble areas, the foods that get you started on a binge, the worst times of day, etc.

I'd suggest you keep a detailed food diary for at least two weeks to accurately reflect your habits.

2.LEARN ABOUT NUTRITION.

Learn all you can about nutrition online, through books, or by taking a nutrition class at your local community college.

CHANGE TWO: WHAT YOU DRINK

Sometimes it's easy to focus so much on what we eat that we forget to include what we drink in our diet analysis. That can be a big problem, because the number of liquid calories you can consume without even realizing is quite astounding.

1.PUT THE KIBOSH ON COLA CONSUMPTION.
If you drink regular soda, you may be surprised at just how many additional calories you're taking in.

For example, for every 20 ounces of Coca-Cola you drink, you're consuming 250 calories. Drink several glasses a day and you can easily down 1,000 liquid calories.

If you're attempting to consume around 1,500 to 1,600 calories a day in order to lose weight, you've almost blown your entire calorie budget on soda!

When you think about how many calories you eat on average and then add in those empty calories, you'll realize what a waste drinking these sugary drinks is -- literally -- they go straight to your waist!

If you drink a lot of soda, think of how many calories you'll be saving if you trade it in for diet soda or water. Hundreds? Even thousands? Remember, every 3,500 calories saved equals one pound lost!

Don't get me wrong: Losing weight is not easy. You will never hear me say that it is. It takes dedication, motivation and hard work.

But there are some fairly simple changes that will greatly improve your chances of weight loss success. If you're serious about changing your lifestyle, these steps will get you there.

The key is to dedicate yourself to these changes and do them consistently.

No, losing weight isn't a walk in the park. But by following these steps ... you may find it's a little easier than you think!

CHANGE ONE: WHAT YOU EAT
First up, let's take a look at some simple ways to make significant improvements in our diets.