It is no secret that the key to losing weight is being in a caloric deficit.  A caloric deficit means that you are intaking fewer calories than your body requires for daily function.  It does not mean that you have to eat 800 calories a day, even just a slight 20-30% deficit can make a difference.   When it comes down to weight gain/maintenance/loss, it is a matter of calories.  For some people who like numbers and don’t mind tracking, using a calorie tracking app such as My Fitness Pal really helps put things into perspective.  Some find they just need to track for a few months consistently until they understand what they can intake on a daily basis and then they can relax on the counting. Then there are others who cringe at the thought of having to track their food. If you’re one of the people who think “oh dear God NO, I am not counting calories” don’t fear, there are some easy things you can do to cut down on calories and get yourself closer to your goals without having to