Making a decision to lose weight can be one of the easiest things to do, but the process of losing weight can be one of the hardest. Maintaining a weight loss routine can be frustrating and tiring, but here are a few weight loss tips to make the entire process easier.

Being part of a support group can keep you from feeling alone when losing weight. If you have friends or family who are working on weight loss at the same time, talk to them about it for motivation. You can also join an online support group. You can trade stories, gain inspiration, give others inspiration, and learn new things by hearing the successes and failures of others.

Remove one unhealthy thing from your diet. If you are new to dieting, you might want to take it slow. Cut out one unhealthy thing from your diet, like soft drinks. Substitute the unhealthy thing for something healthy. More often than not, you will see surprisingly dramatic results for that one, simple substitution.

Tip: Lessen the calories you are consuming in a day. Reducing your caloric intake by 500 calories daily might be advisable, depending upon the number of calories you currently consume in a day.

A great tip to lose weight is to invest in a shaker bottle. Shaker bottles are very useful because you can make your own protein shake on the fly. All you have to do is add protein powder and any liquid of your choice, and just shake it up a few times.

A great tip to help you lose weight is to leave the house and just go for a walk whenever you feel the urge to snack. Sometimes it's just about distracting yourself when you're hungry. Leaving the house and going for a walk is a great distraction from hunger.

Tip: Fitness is an important factor in weight loss. Make sure you are getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.

Public restrooms can be atrocious. One very handy tip for women is to take along a funnel specially made so that they can relieve themselves while standing up. You might laugh but it sure beats trying to use a toilet where you practically gag just peeking in the door!

Drink coffee to suppress your appetite. Some people think that drinking coffee speeds your metabolism. Studies have found that this might not be entirely true. It does, however, work to suppress hunger and food cravings. If you are worried about your caffeine intake, try drinking decaf instead. It has the same benefits.

Tip: If you are a potato lover, you can still have mashed potatoes, just substitute cauliflower. Simmer the cauliflower in a tightly covered pot with chicken broth and chopped onion.

Allow yourself to have snacks that you enjoy. If you feel deprived, you may binge on unhealthy foods. That can lead to guilt, more overeating and you could possibly abandon your weight loss efforts. The main key to snacking smartly, is portion control. Decide how much of a treat you are going to have and then stick to it. You can also learn to cook your favorite recipes with healthier substitutions.

Be careful which home fragrances you choose when you are trying to lose weight. You are more likely to start craving a particular food if you smell something that reminds you of it. Therefore, filling your home with the scent of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies or creamy pumpkin pie, can be a recipe for disaster.

Tip: One possible method for losing weight is self-hypnosis. It sounds crazy, but hypnosis has been shown to change lives.

Smaller plates make small portions look larger. If you are trying to limit your portion sizes but find your food looks sparse on your plate, try switching out your dinnerware. You can fool your brain into thinking there is more food, and therefore feel fuller, by using a salad plate as a dinner plate.

Use these weight loss tips to help you keep going on your weight loss journey. It can be difficult at times, but once you start seeing those pounds fall away you'll want to keep going. Commit to losing weight and don't stop until you've met your goal. It will be worth it in the end.