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Losing a few pounds doesn’t have to be a chore or expensive, either. As long as you can read the labels on the foods you purchase, you can be mindful of your intake of things such as fat, carbohydrates, sugars, etc. If you’re disciplined enough, it doesn’t have to cost you any more than you would normally spend at the grocery store. Here are ten practical things to keep in mind if shedding a few pounds is a priority:

1. Fast food is a no-no. Anything processed should be avoided as much as possible. While you might think they taste good, food and drinks such as candy, ice cream, Coke, Pepsi, cake, etc. often contain hidden sugar and fat.

2. Be more active. Get the blood pumping. Dust off the bike, swim, take a stroll around the block — anything that will burn some calories and help to curb your appetite. If you’re not sure how much you can take, ask your doctor.

3. Know your fat-to-carb ratio. It’s not necessarily just fats or just carbs that lead to weight gain. It’s a combination of both. Obviously, if the intake of both is high, you’ll gain weight. Figure out what’s best for you. I’m not saying to eliminate both completely, as that’s not good either, but begin to slowly scale back on one or the other until you start to see the results you want.

4. Reduce your fat intake. This is not as difficult as it may seem. A pair of kitchen scissors works wonders. Let’s say you have a passion for chicken. Skinless is better, especially if you like your chicken fried. Before you cook it, trim the visible fat. Reduce your intake of red meat and start buying lower-fat varieties of fish, turkey, pork, etc.

5. Scale back on the sweets. As I said earlier, a piece of cake or pie every so often certainly won’t do major damage. But if you have a sweet tooth, you have to discipline yourself to limit how much sugar you’re ingesting.

6. Don’t overdo the booze. If you drink too much, it changes to fat. Bottom line.

7. Don’t starve yourself during the day. Don’t think that not eating will give you free reign at dinner. Not a good idea. If you do this, you’ll tend to eat more. Keep yourself satisfied during the day by eating several small meals, but make sure they contain lots of fruits and vegetables.

8. If you don’t currently have a hobby, get one. People who are bored tend to fill their time picking here and there. The less idle time you have, the less inclined you’ll be to eat.

9. Eat healthier foods. That might seem overly obvious, but fruits and vegetables will provide fat-burning properties that you just won’t find in processed foods.

10. Eat less, but don’t go hungry. Eating low fat tends to make you less satisfied. Don’t give in to the temptation. If you have to snack, pick things that are low in fat or carbs. If you’re disciplined enough to follow these 10 rules, you shouldn’t have difficulty shedding the pounds.

It may be difficult to make the adjustment at first. But if you stick with it, you’ll see results. Just don’t do anything drastic at first. Slowly begin to tweak your diet and see what works best for you.