Log your eatz!
 

Any guru will tell you: "To change your fortunes, change your
thoughts."

An easy way to start that, in dieting, is simply to log EVERY bit of
food you eat, throughout the day.

You'd be surprised at how much you can really put away in just little
"forgotten" stops for munching: here a muffin, there a pastry, and
let's not forget the bagel or that piece of cake from the party. Not
to mention any drinks with calories!

It ALL adds up, of course, and only when you come to recognize your
total intake of calories, will you be able to assess what is really
going on with your diet.

Please note that I say "assess" your diet, and NOT "obsess", over it.
Obsession in dieting is a path that can lead to eating disorders, and
has to be avoided.

My advice is never stress over your food - work at creating an
interesting, balanced, and lower calorie diet, but don't *stress* over
it.

No matter how hard you try, a successful diet is NEVER a short-term
project. It will take several weeks or months, to achieve your goal
weight. Maintaining that goal weight afterwards, will be a much longer
project, still. There is simply nothing in dieting that is FAST.

Except keeping a log of your total intake of calories. It's quick, and
helps keep you focused. Also, if you need some help, you'll want to
show that log to whomever is giving you a hand.