Losing weight doesn't have to mean counting the number of pieces of celery you eat for dinner or making the gym your home away from home. You can lose weight and enjoy eating at the same time. Check out these methods proven by science to help you win at your weight loss goals.

Have dessert for breakfast

Feel free to include those leftover brownies in your morning meal. According to a study conducted by Tel Aviv University, a breakfast including a sweet treat aids in weight loss. Those who ate a treat as part of their morning meal lost an average of 40 lbs. more than the participants who avoided them entirely. Not only that, but those who ate dessert for breakfast kept the weight off longer. Getting the bulk of your calories in before lunch allows you to burn them off throughout the day; and adding a treat to breakfast can help you control your sweet cravings throughout the rest of the day.

Indulge in ice cream

A study conducted by "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found eating dairy daily, including desserts such as ice cream, can help you lose weight. It's important to go for the full-fat versions. Research shows that opting for the "healthy" versions aren't as satisfying, so people tend to eat more than if they had gone for the straight-up ice cream they were craving.

Take a nap

You might be misinterpreting your body's yearnings for sleep as hunger. Sleep researcher at Cornell University, James Maas said, "Many people think they're hungry when they're actually sleepy. Instead of a snack, they need shut-eye." Maas explains that when you don't get enough sleep, levels of leptin - the hormone in your body that tells your body when it's full - are lower. This means that your hunger is actually caused by a lack of sleep rather than a lack of food.

Eat spicy food

Fiery foods are great for weight loss for multiple reasons. For example, spicy foods elevate your metabolism, which will increase the calories you burn. Also, the flavorfulness of these foods may decrease the amount of overall calories you eat because you tend to drink more water while eating them, and because most people eat spicy foods slower.

Flex your muscles

A study in the "Journal of Consumer Research" discovered that people who clench their muscles were able to exert more self-control over food cravings. So the next time you're having a face-off with a piece of chocolate cake, show it your fists.

Oil your bread

If you can't shake the sound of the bread basket calling your name, try greasing with oil instead of butter. Not only is oil more healthy for you overall, but in a study conducted by the "International Journal of Obesity," researchers discovered that people who used olive oil consumed 23 percent less bread than those who spread their bread with butter.

Allow for some chillier nights

Scientists have discovered that people exposed to cold temperatures for 10 hours a night had a 10 percent increase in their metabolism. Try turning down the heat in your home to get your body burning calories on its own.

Choose blue

There's a reason so many restaurants are colored red; the mere color has the power to increase your appetite. On the other hand, blue tends to suppress appetites. So try putting your food on a blue plate or sprinkling it with some blueberries to keep from eating too much.