Okay, let’s face it: America may be the largest, most out-of-shape country in the world. The majority of us need to lose weight, which seems almost impossible when we’re served huge portions at restaurants and visual temptations for Big Macs and Outback Steakhouse are flashed in front of us a hundred times a day.

There is hope, though. Diet and exercise are the keys, and with a true desire to lose weight, some discipline, and a plan, it can be done. Below are 8 ways in which you can make it happen.

1. For starters, be realistic. You aren’t going to lose 10 pounds in a week unless you’re dead. Set realistic weight loss goals for yourself, like a pound or two a week, and wait patiently to see the results. They will come.
    
2. Go public. Tell your family, and everyone else, that you’re on a diet and working out. This will give you added incentive to stick with it.
    
3. Water. Drinking plenty of water will not only help flush out the impurities in your system, it will also help keep you filled up and reduce some of that spontaneous eating.
    
4. Take before and after photos. Every week or two, as you lose weight, take a photo of yourself to document your progress. As you lose weight, this will be a major encouragement to continue.
    
5. Don’t let restaurants rule you. Try to reduce your trips to the restaurant, be they fast food or sit-down. But if you do eat out, try to order less and order healthier. And when a sit-down restaurant serves you a portion twice as big as what you need, take some home for the next day. Don’t let them make you think you have to eat it.
    
6. Don’t compare yourself to other people. Especially celebrities. People like Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman have trainers and chefs to help them look perfect. You aren’t them. Work with your own body, your own limitations and your own weight-loss program.
    
7. Find like-minded friends. You can buddy up with someone in your own city for walking in the park, or join an online support group. You may feel like you’re in this alone, but there are millions of people trying to lose weight the same way you are, and they can help encourage and support one another.
    
8. Change your lifestyle, the smallest things a little at a time. Start doing little things like getting off the couch to change the TV channel, taking the steps instead of the elevator, packing your lunch instead of buying it. Little things mean a lot, as the song goes. They’ll add up to more calories avoided and pounds lost.

So many things in life are affected by our weight, from our health to our social standing. It only makes sense for all of us to take some of these simple steps to stay at a weight that makes us feel better, and feel better about ourselves.