Tempted by a favorite treat? "Sometimes, you literally have to put distance between yourself and the food in question," says Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., author of The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person. "Make a ‘distraction kit,’ a box filled with 20 different things you can do instead of eating, like crossword puzzles, a list of Web sites you can browse, a bottle of nail polish and more," Beck advises. When a food starts calling your name, open up the box and get busy with some of the activities. "By the time you’re done, chances are, you’ll have forgotten all about your craving," says Beck.

Take a Seat

"Never eat while you’re standing, even if it’s just a snack," advises Beck. You'll be more likely to chow down if you do. When you're in a vertical position, you pay more attention to what's going on around you than the plate in front of you. "You won’t keep track of how much you’re eating, which puts you at risk of overconsuming calories," she says. Plus: "When you sit down, you feel more satisfied, because you’re able to eat more slowly. You’ll enjoy every bite, which means you’ll be less tempted to keep munching."

Pick the Right Crowd

You know the type -- the aunt who gets offended if you don’t take three servings of her lasagna, or the pal who pouts when you skip happy hour to squeeze in a walk. When it comes to "food pushers" and "fitness bashers," you’ve got to put your foot down, says Judith Lederman, whose 80-lb. weight loss inspired her to write Joining the Thin Club: Tips for Toning Your Mind After You’ve Trimmed Your Body. "Maintaining healthy habits is tough enough -- but it becomes nearly impossible if those around you don’t support your lifestyle. So tell friends and family you need their encouragement. If they continue to sabotage you, minimize contact and maximize your time with those who applaud your actions," she says.

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