If you know me at all, you know I'm a huge fan of calorie counting. There's nothing like being aware of how many calories you eat in a day to really put your eating habits in perspective. That's one of the reasons why I created the FitWatch Fitness Tracker, so you can keep track of your calories online.

But what if you're not into counting calories or you want to take a break from counting calories? How else can you not go overboard with eating?

Here are two simple alternatives to counting calories:

It's happened to all of us at one point or another - we're going along great on our healthy weight loss plan, when all of a sudden we careen out of control and eat something we really shouldn't have. While this is a common experience that all dieters share, it does not have to mean disaster if you keep your senses and take action to minimize the damage.

Here are a few do's and don'ts after 'cheating' on your diet:

Have you ever found yourself elbow-deep in a carton of ice cream, a bag of chips or a package of cookies and realized that you were having a binge eating session? Even worse, maybe you didn't even recall making the decision to eat all that food; you just kind of "woke up" during the middle of it?

Binge eating can be a sign of a serious eating disorder, but sometimes it's merely a knee-jerk response to emotional triggers. Below are 5 clues that a binge could be imminent, along with tips to nip it in the bud before it can blossom into dietary destruction.

Have you ever heard that your outer surroundings are a direct reflection of what's going on inside of you? In many ways this is true - when you feel overwhelmed, stressed and confused, you may not devote the same amount of effort to keeping your home and work space clean and orderly. You may not devote much time and attention to taking good care of yourself, either.

It can also work the other way. Disorganized, chaotic surroundings make you feel weighed down, fatigued and unmotivated.

Taking the time to organize, clean and harmonize your surroundings can do wonders for your state of mind and body. You'll feel clear, energized and eager to move forward on your goals - that includes weight loss goals as well as other goals.

Here are a few ways you can get more organized -- and drop those pounds:

If you've tried to lose weight and failed, you're probably thinking that it's a mighty difficult task to accomplish. Do you feel like you've tried every diet out there and nothing works?

Don't give up! Achieving your weight loss goals might be easier than you think!

Small Changes = Big Results

As you've no doubt noticed, weight loss isn't a quick fix. You can't go on a two-week diet, lose the weight, and then think that the weight will stay off for good. Even if you're really good about following a diet at first, you'll more than likely gain the weight back.

Why?

It's because a two-week diet does nothing to alter your lifestyle. The best results come from changes that you incorporate into your daily life, and many of these changes aren't drastically different from what you do now.

You can even continue to enjoy the foods you love as long as you do so with a wise plan!

If you make a series of small changes, one at a time, you'll give yourself a chance to get used to them. It won't seem like such a shock to your system when you introduce the changes gradually. Sooner than you think, you'll lose the weight and gain the healthy body and lifestyle that you desire!

Here are some weight loss tips to implement into your new lifestyle:

It's easy to get motivated to start a weight loss plan at the beginning of the summer. Many people, motivated by the sunny weather and excitement that summer brings, resolve to get in shape over the summer months. With the summer comes a new beginning and new enthusiasm.

After a while, however, it can be difficult to maintain the same high level of motivation you need to keep going. When the motivation of an upcoming vacation or looking your best in a swimsuit is no longer in front of you, you can easily get discouraged and fall back into old habits.

Instead of giving up, choose success.

Stick to your weight loss and fitness goals even after the swimsuit season with these tips and tricks:

Many people focus on diet improvements because they feel they need to lose weight. It's true that obesity is a rising problem, but more importantly the issue of health is at the heart of it all.

If you think your diet needs improvement, you're not alone. It's true that "you are what you eat," and your food choices determine how you feel every day. The proper choices enable your body to fight stress and disease and keep you in tip-top shape so that you look and feel good.

You can feel the benefits from proper nutrition almost immediately. With a few healthy changes to your diet, you can be feeling great in no time.

Try making the following changes to your diet:

Restaurants are notorious for sneaking in unhealthy ingredients. Some people think that the only way to remain truly healthy is to avoid eating out at most restaurants altogether. Or perhaps you can only eat at restaurants that are geared solely towards maintaining health. This simply isn't true!

The truth is that with a little research and smart thinking, you can enjoy most restaurants from fast food joints up to four-star establishments and still maintain a balanced diet.

Here are some important tips to keep in mind as you continue to enjoy eating out:

You don't always have to follow an official diet plan to lose weight - there are plenty of small yet powerful changes you can make to your eating habits that will help you lose weight.

Below are three easy ones to get you started:

Have you ever had trouble sleeping? Are you up late every night, struggling to settle into a comfortable position? Do you wake up each morning feeling like you haven't slept a wink?

While you may have been in bed for five, six or seven hours, you may have only slept an hour or two. If this describes you, you are not alone.

Insomnia is a common issue that millions of people face. Sleep deprivation can affect your health, job performance, and even your relationships with the people you love. Your body and mind need enough rest to recharge your internal batteries.

If you lack the proper amount of rest, your body will become weaker and weaker. You'll feel more lethargic and think less clearly. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to increase the quality and quantity of sleep you receive at night. A few small changes can make a difference between a life of vitality and one of lethargy.

Try these techniques to get a better night's rest: