Because diets suck...

... and I'm always looking for ways to make the whole thing more tolerable, I'm hoping we can trade some secrets. Here's my list of must haves to get me through the day.... you can share yours below. Ready for the photo tour?

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I buy the Cran-Pomegranate flavor in bulk; it's that good. It's way better than Crystal Light's cranberry powder mix and actually tastes like juice. It's not thick like juice, but it really helps me choke down enough water to meet the 8 glasses a day thing. I haven't tried the other flavors yet, but Cran-Pom is totally where it's at.

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I like to eat. I especially like to eat in bulk. A handful of almonds? Yeah, ok. A fun-size pack of M&M's? Please. The good stuff is always measured in quantities that would satisfy an infant, so I always double (triple?) up. Obviously that's why I'm here right now devising ways to lose weight.... Anyway, airpopped popcorn is totally cool to eat in mass quantities, since each cup only has 20 calories and a bunch of fiber. So really, 10 cups is only 200 calories, and it takes a loooong time to eat. My kind of snack.

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The grill has become a key player in weight loss around the house. Last night was pork loin and zucchini, tonight was chicken and grilled red peppers... it's so easy to throw a piece of meat on with some veggies. I almost don't miss the carbs I'd normally be making if I were cooking in the kitchen. The added bonus is that I don't cook on the grill - Ryan does. What does this mean for me? I get to sit on the porch with a beer and enjoy a great view of my husband's behind. And then I get served a pretty kick ass dinner. Yep, the grill was a pretty great investment.

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The Crate & Barrel salt and pepper mill we received as a wedding gift is really the unsung hero in this household. There is really nothing like the taste of fresh cracked pepper - I really don't think I could ever go back to the ground stuff. Pepper goes on everything now and gives it such a great flavor that I really concentrate on what I'm eating. On the flip side, I use less salt than I used to because the flavor of the freshly milled salt is super strong and I don't need as much.