25 Healthy Alternatives to Lose 8 Pounds

If you want to lose 8 pounds, all you have to do is follow any of these diet tips every day. When you get on the scale in a year's time, you'll find that you could possibly lose 8 pounds for good!

1. Forget pecan pie (430 cal per slice) and opt for fruit pies instead (240-300 cal)
2. If you can't refrain from pie temptation, at least leave the bottom crust (100 cal)
3. When eating ice cream or yogurt, forget about hot fudge or cookie toppings (102-125 cal) and sprinkle some fresh berries instead (10 cal)
4. Better yet, leave ice cream to the kids (178 cal per half cup) and buy the more nutritious frozen fruit bars for yourself (50-90 cal)
5. Low-fat yogurt (230 cal) is good for you but you can do even better with non-fat (90-110 cal)
6. For a snack option, trade your 2 ounces of salted peanuts (328 cal) for 20 pieces of thin-twist pretzels (220 cal)
7. Swap your 20 pieces of regular-sized French fries (274 cal) with about 7 ounces of baked potato (145 cal)
8. Smaller portions are better. Pass on the large fries (355 cal) and take the small one instead (235 cal)
9. Forget about the glazed doughnut (230 cal) and pick up the English muffin instead (135 cal)
10. Instead of jazzing up your plain bagel with a tablespoon of cream cheese (50 cal) or butter (100 cal), try a hot, fresh, cinnamon-raisin bagel without any toppings.
11. Do not put a thick layer of peanut butter on your PB&J sandwich. Cut down from 2 tablespoons (190 cal) to just one tablespoon (95 cal)
12. Eating 4 strips of bacon (145 cal) with your eggs at breakfast can be changed to cutting up one slice of Canadian bacon (43 cal) and using it as omelet filling.
13. Replace your regular hotdogs (142-180 cal) with a grilled fat-free one (40 cal)
14. Switch from regular dressing (135-155 cal per 2 tablespoons) to a fat-free variety (30-50 cal)
15. For a soup alternative, change your usual cup of canned cream of chicken (116 cal) to chicken bouillon (13 cal)
16. Pass on the canned creamed corn (186 cal) and go for corn on the cob (90 cal)
17. Quit using regular mayo (200 cal per 2 tablespoons) on your salads and substitute light mayo instead (200 cal)
18. After cooking, throw away the chicken breast (100 cal)
19. Stay away from the cooking oil (120 cal) when saut?ing. Instead, spritz on some cooking spray to your non-stick cooking pans
20. Shrimp tastes good when fried (146 cal per 8 pieces) but is more figure-friendly when boiled (44 cal)
21. Eating is an important part of going to the movies. But instead of munching on 15 of your favorite chocolate-covered peanuts (195 cal), have 20 chocolate-covered raisins instead (91 cal)
22. If you can't resist having some chips, pass on the regular tortilla chips with guacamole (242 cal) with some fat-free chips and salsa dip (130 cal)
23. If you like the taste of cocktails, try ordering their virgin version. You'll enjoy the same taste without taking in the calories from alcohol (100 cal for every 1 ? ounces)
24. If you can't eliminate the sweets, at least stay away from chocolate bars (210 cal) and eat some jelly beans or about 5 hard candy (110 cal)
25. Quench your everyday thirst with fresh cool water rather than regular soda (100 cal per 8 ounces)