Like most of us, you probably love food! Eating less to lose weight is probably not a happy thought for you. But wait.. it doesn't have to hurt so much! Follow these suggestions: you'll be amazed at how painless it can all be and you'll be delighted with your new sleek and slender figure!

We all know we need to have a well balanced diet. But this doesn't mean your diet has to be boring, just well planned. Sit down with your low fat recipe books and plan your week's meals before you go grocery shopping. Do not shop while you're hungry as you'll buy more. Only buy what's on the list. See how good it feels to have your shopping trolley full of mostly fruit and vegetables!

Rather than following the current trend of using huge plates, convert to small dinner plates. It will look like you're eating more than you actually are, and this can kind of fool your mind. Don't fall into the trap of eating dinner late: again, organisation is the key. If you eat dinner early in the evening, you can brush your teeth and tell yourself eating is over for the day. You won't be as tempted to munch on late night snacks. If you do want something in your stomach while you're watching telelvision, grab a water bottle from the front of the fridge and sip on that.

So in a nutshell, what should we be eating? The answer is five servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day. Consider putting fruit on your cereal or porridge each morning and you'll have met the first requirement of one piece of fruit. It won't be too hard to munch on an apple at a regular time each day (such as when you're walking to the post office or coming home from work). I eat a carrot every day for morning tea as raw carrots actually take quite a lot of eating and I can then tick off my first serving of vegetables for the day.

In our busy lifestyles most of us have developed the nasty habit of eating too quickly. Slow down,it's not a race! The texture and flavour of the food is delightful, notice it, enjoy it! And don't neglect water. If you drink water with every meal and snack, it will fill you up and you will eat less food. Plus it has loads of other benefits. Consider leaving chopped up fruit in the fridge for easy access. It's surprising how many people eat fruit when it's ready to eat and doesn't require peeling and chopping.

When we get together with family and friends, it's usually based around food. We meet together for a meal or a coffee. When we picnic we take loads of food with us, and not always healthy food. Think of creative ways you can arrange get-togethers which do not necessarily involve food. For example, you could go for a long walk: this provides great opportunity for substancial conversations, and rather than consuming calories, you're burning them. Double benefit!

When heading out to social or sporting events, be kind to your body and your budget by packing healthy foods before you go. Most venues stock fast foods which are high in fat. In addition, you often waste previous time as a family by queuing up. If you worry that your kids will be missing out, you could buy them a treat after they've filled up on sandwiches and fruit. By then the smell of hot fries and chips will not seem as irresistable!

In reality, I know no one whose diet meets nutritional requirements every single day. These days everyone is so busy that it's becoming harder and harder. That's why my whole family takes daily health supplements in the form of whey protein shakes or capsules, in order to keep sleek and slender. My wife and I have great peace of mind that our kids are receiving all the vitamins and minerals they need, even on busy days. After walking and sport, I make sure we all have a protein-based shake to help repair and tone muscle. No one here complains about a nice tasting milkshake and we all feel the benefit.

Losing weight is not as arduous as we sometimes think it is. If you can make some adjustments to your lifestyle, you'll never have to worry about fad diets or starving yourself again! Surely that's a motivation in itself!

Health and Drug Educator, Colin Johnson, strongly endorses premium whey protein shakes for men and sleek and slender whey and soy protein for females, for rapid fat loss, recovery and an A-Rated Industry Approved dietary supplement. Click here for other unique 'weight loss' articles.