Have you ever felt like following a diet was the same thing as being punished? It's easy to feel that way, especially if you are following a very strict diet that forbids you to eat the foods you used to enjoy so much.

The problem with this "punishment" mind-set is that eventually you are going to give up the diet because it makes you feel so depressed and frustrated, or you'll find little ways to strike back and rebel (mostly by cheating repeatedly on your diet). Is there a better way to handle this situation? Yes!

Like most bad habits, overeating can quickly get out of control. As a Nutrition Coach, I share my eight most effective strategies to train yourself to eat less.

Stress has become a chronic problem for many people these days, and overeating is often the way that many people deal with stress. But did you know that healthy eating can actually help you reduce stress and enjoy a much more peaceful way of life? Below are 3 strategies for using healthy eating to reduce stress:

Stress and Healthy Eating Strategy #1

This week's featured food is full of protein, carbs and good fats: sushi! With the fish, vegetables, avocado and nori (seaweed wrap), sushi is healthy in terms of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The rice does add extra calories, but is still a good source of carbs. (Rice has gotten such a bad rep, unfortunately.) You can order sashimi to reduce the calories.

Do you struggle with an ingrained habit of munching on high-calorie foods while you are at home? There's an easy way to break this habit - and in fact, it can be kind of fun to do it.

Many weight loss plans encourage you to remove fattening, high-calorie foods from your home so you won't be tempted to eat them. However, if you live with other people this may not be possible. Besides, removing the foods completely is not really a good way to strengthen your willpower. Being able to turn them down while they are staring you in the face is the true test of strength, right?

Goal setting for weight loss is an important activity if you want to reach your goal weight quickly and easily. But setting a general goal to "lose 25 pounds" is too vague to be effective. Below are three important tips that you should incorporate into your weight loss goal setting plans:

When you go on vacation, you may find that it's extremely tempting to abandon your healthy eating habits and start eating everything in sight. Despite your best intentions to stick to a healthy eating plan, you may be lured in by the sights and scents of delicious restaurant meals, fast food, and rich, home-cooked meals prepared by well-meaning family members.

If you are planning a trip and you're worried about how to stick to a healthy eating plan on vacation, take a look at the helpful tips below.

Healthy Eating on Vacation Tips:

Many people who start a diet (change their way of eating) are doomed to failure before they even get started. Most often this is due to a "negative diet mind-set" that they develop as they prepare to change their lifestyle habits. If you think this may apply to you, take a look at the three major mistakes that a negative diet mind-set often causes:

When you want to lose weight, you may immediately think of starting a formal diet plan, but that's not always necessary - especially if you only have a few pounds to lose. The following 10 power tips can help you shed a few pounds easily without the need for a full-blown diet, and they can even be used if you have more than a few pounds to lose.

A weight loss goal chart can be a great way to keep yourself firmly on track with your weight loss goals. Even better, it serves as a handy snapshot of your progress as you go along.

There are several ways to create a weight loss goal chart, but here is one simple way: