According to a report, the average American wishes they weighed 15 lbs lighter. And while losing 15 lbs typically won’t make one skinny, it’s important to note you shouldn’t actually aim for that anyway. Medically speaking, you should aim for your healthy weight for your body type, and mentally speaking, you should love yourself and not define your value by your weight.

Whether you just want to lose a few lbs if you’re slightly over your healthy weight, or if you’re at the beginning of your weight loss journey and aiming for it, here’s “the skinny” on how to reach it—the secrets (read: simple habits) of women who stay their ideal weight.

1. They Eat What They Want

People who are slim don’t see certain foods as “bad” or “off-limits”. Creating an off-limits list increases the likelihood that you’ll want it more. So you shouldn’t ban your favorite foods entirely but eat them in moderation.