How to Diet Without Hating Life

Eat dinner off of a salad plate rather than a full-sized plate. You won't have room to pile on excess food, plus the illusion of a full plate will trick your brain into thinking you're eating more.

Research a restaurant's menu online before you go out. If you already have a healthyish choice picked out when you walk in, you won't even have to look at the menu again—making you waaay less likely to cave and order that awesome looking burger and fries on impulse.

Since most restaurant entrees come with majorly oversized portions, ask your server for a to-go container upfront and box up half of your meal before digging in. That saves you from scarfing down more than you want just because the food's there, and, bonus—now you have lunch the next day.

Jot down everything you eat each day for a full week. You may not realize how many things you mindlessly munch on throughout the day, so seeing everything written out can help you identify ways to make easy cuts—like your third cup of coffee at work or that handful of cereal before bed.

At happy hour, alternate your mixed drinks with the occasional club soda with lime. The swap looks and feels like "real" drink so you can keep pace with your crew, but has zero calories.

Nix the whipped cream and order your morning latte with double foam, instead. You'll save about 100 calories, and the extra foam still gives that light, fluffy feel to each sip.

Take a short walk around the block after work. Even 10 just minutes of exercise is enough to get your blood flowing and your heart pumping, which will stifle some of those post-work hunger pangs.

Suck down a glass of water before lunch and dinner. Not only will you feel more hydrated (which can decrease hunger levels), but you'll also have less room for food when you sit down to eat, so you feel fuller without eating as much.

Be smart about portions. Sure, chicken is pretty low-cal, but not if you eat four servings worth at once. A few good rules of thumb: One serving of chicken should be the size of a deck of cards, a serving of cheese is the equivalent of about three dice, one serving of bread is the size of a cassette tape, etc.

When you're waking into a restaurant, keep your eyes to yourself. Most cravings spark from some kind of visual aid, so chances are ordering that loaded fries appetizer didn't even cross your mind until you saw table four chowing down on them. Instead, focus on talking to whoever you're with.

Keep an apple stashed in your purse for when you're out and start craving a snack. Fiber-rich fruits take time to chew and make you feel full, so when that sudden hunger hits, you'll feel sated in just a few bites.

Log a minimum of eight hours of sleep each night. Not only is that eight full hours you know you won't be rummaging through the pantry, but when you feel truly rested, you'll end those cravings for a sugary midday pick-me-up.

Keep a small container of yogurt in the freezer to have for dessert. It'll feel indulgent like froyo or ice cream when you're craving something sweet, but at just a fraction of the calories.

Brush your teeth right after dinner. The minty flavor of your toothpaste will kill your taste for whatever might tempt you as a late-night snack later on.

Stay off Pinterest at work—seriously. When that 3:00 slump hits and you're looking at recipes for slutty brownies, guess what you're going to be craving as soon as you get off? Yeah. You'd never go grocery shopping when hungry, so same deal.

When eating at home, serve your food from the counter, not the table. Studies show that people who sit closest to buffets tend to have the highest BMIs since the food is at easier access. Think about it: You'd be way less likely to go for a second helping of macaroni if it's not on the table right in front of you.