1. Before and After Photos This is a huge deal. Find a picture of the old you. You know, the person who hid behind loose fitting clothes or maybe didn’t venture out very often because she was embarrassed and overweight. Now find a photo of the new you. Rocking the zumba class and free weights, the one who is brimming with tons of confidence and natural beauty. Whenever you feel like overindulging in sweets or spending the evening vegging out on the couch, whip out these photos and ask yourself if you want to go back in time…or not.

2. Vegetables, Vegetables, Vegetables. We all love to snack and munch, especially when it’s 3 PM at the office or a lazy Sunday just after brunch but way too far from dinner. It’s really ok to snack! Just make a deal with yourself that the first food item you grab must be vegetable based like carrot or celery sticks smeared with a little hummus, baked sweet potato fries, or a salad with a sprinkle of real parmesan cheese. After you have a serving of vegetables, then you can reach for another kind of treat, but we know you won’t eat as much of it as you would have before.

3. Lift Weights. Your body at rest will burn much more fat if you maintain more muscle mass. Incorporate a weight routine into your regular workout routine. And don’t worry about bulking up: your body does not create enough testosterone to make you bulk up like a bodybuilder.

4. Invest in a Heart Rate Monitor: If you are counting calories and working out at least three or four times a week, then consider wearing a heart rate monitor so that you know exactly how many calories you are burning each time you exercise. This way, you will also be able to tell how much you have to burn off everyday in order to break even and maintain that hot new figure of yours.