It's no secret that as you get older the fatty stuff that you used to eat when you were younger is not going to treat your body too kindly in its later years. It's essential to realize that sooner than later because the older you get the harder it is to lose the pounds. That 10-pound weight gain from 2012 can easily turn into a 40-pound weight gain in 2016 if you're not careful.

The biggest mistake that I see people make who are trying to lose weight is not changing their diet. They will work out five days per week but are perplexed at how they can sweat for an hour during their workouts but not see any results. They may even burn 500-800 calories or more and not shed one pound. The reason is always diet. You can't eat a ribeye, fried chicken wings, french fries, cheesecake and drink eight sugary drinks every day and still expect to lose weight. You are not going to win that battle. You'd need to stay on the treadmill half the day to continue eating like that and lose some pounds, especially if age isn't on your side. Believe me, I'd love nothing better than to eat a steak, a big slice of cheesecake, and a pint of gelato at every sitting.

Whenever I see a few pounds sneaking their way onto my body, I quickly go into vegetarian mode, which is something I do consistently regardless of extra pounds. See my post The Weekly Vegetarian for more information. However, sometimes certain celebrations, events, lazy winters, etc., get me off track and I may become 10 pounds over my ideal weight. It's happened a few times. Like now. But that's it ... 10 pounds is the only amount I'll allow before I take drastic action. I can even tell you exactly where each pound is located: 5 in the stomach, 1 1/2 in each leg, 1 in the back, and a 1/2 pound in each arm. When you're in tune with your body, you know where the unwanted guests are invading it. You may even remember when you left the door open for them to come in and join you on the couch ... that 10-ounce steak in November, those huge cookies in December, that pound of potatoes in January, those four slices of cheesecake in February, those -- OH MY GOD -- alcoholic beverages in March. (Hey, do me a favor and count the number of drinks you may have had in one given month. Even drinking occasionally, the number might not be pretty. Plus, drinks have a lot of calories. There's half of your weight loss program right there.)

With that said, here are a few tips to help you with your diet and to keep the pounds off. You don't have to eat this way every day, and the goal isn't to keep you from having some of the things you like, but simply to make adjustments periodically. Just remember moderation is key. When you think about it, moderation and balance is the key to everything in life.

1. Planning your meals. This is probably one of the most important things you can do for yourself when it comes to eating a little more healthy and if you need to lose a few pounds. If your Sunday permits, prepare 2-3 meals for the week. You can even just prep your meals instead of cooking them on Sunday, so all you have to do on Monday or Tuesday is pop them into the oven.

2. Buy snack pack baggies. Make your own trail mix complete with a variety of nuts, preferably almonds, a few pieces of dried fruit, plantain or kale chips and any other somewhat healthy snack. Pack it in snack pack sized baggies to control portions. Do the same thing with raw veggies like carrots and celery or whichever vegetable you prefer. Eat as many snack packs of veggies as you want every day since the calories are minimum and they help you to feel full, however try to only eat one snack pack of nuts and dried fruits. You can also just omit dried fruits altogether and opt for an apple, banana or melon fruits.

3. Drink plenty of water. I'm amazed by how many people who don't drink enough water. Some even say they don't like it. Well, their body disagrees with them seeing as though it is made up of 55-60 percent water. Not only is water the most important nutrient in the body, it also helps you to keep the weight off if you drink enough of it. We can survive longer without food than water. Sometimes when we think we're hungry, we're actually just thirsty.

4. Substitute a few meals with vegetarian meals. Don't eat meat or chicken with every meal. Try to incorporate a high fiber meal and use soy as a substitute for your protein periodically. There are a lot of vegetarian options on the market right now and you won't even miss the meat, especially if you train yourself to make this a permanent part of your life. Just try it for a few meals a week. For instance, eat eggs for breakfast or a salad with no meat for lunch. Try to always make breakfast your lightest meal of the day and then have a slightly heavier lunch, so you can save the meal with the most calories for your dinner. If work lunches or something else makes this unlikely, switch your meals accordingly. Meaning, if you eat a heavy lunch then eat a lighter dinner or simply a snack.

5. Count your calories. You actually do need to count the calories you're taking in if you want to lose weight. You'd be surprised at how many calories some foods contain. All too often people aren't aware of these calories, especially at restaurants and fast food chains. If your goal is to lose weight, you have to be selective about where you dine out. Some of the simplest and seemingly safest meals (e.g., salads, tuna sandwich, etc.) are oftentimes the worst meals as far as calorie intake at many restaurants. If you have a general idea of what's in your meal, you can guesstimate how many calories are in it. If not, be sure to ask the waiter if you have no idea what you're eating. Sometimes you can just taste how fattening something is by its richness.

6. Drink alcohol and sugary drinks in moderation. Whether you're drinking a margarita, a vodka sour, or wine, you'll be adding a significant amount of calories to your daily intake. There's no way around it ... alcohol adds pounds. That is especially the case when you add fruit juices and other sweeteners to it. You're better off sipping on a shot of something with a splash of lime if you have to drink.

Additionally, soda is also the cause of tremendous weight gain. Its main ingredient of high fructose corn syrup can completely erase any workout you did for the day. In my opinion, soda shouldn't even be consumed in moderation IF you're trying to lose a significant amount of weight. It's not worth it. You can have a nice dessert with half the calories and likely enjoy it much more.

Thanks for reading. Let me know if you have any tips for keeping the pounds at bay. Here's to healthy living! Cheers!

#healthyeating #vegetarian #health #living