Help getting started on the right track

I have been playing poker for a little under a year now(Texas Hold'em NL Only), and at first I knew I didn't have the experience to play good, so I tried to learn. Read some poker books, played some games, and all that. I don't use any programs to track any data or help me with stats though.
So after awhile I started to think I was better than your average low stake player, since I only put $10-$50 at once I play the lowest stakes. But the results speak for themselves, over the past few months I've lost a decent amount of money on poker, in my opinion. Around $500. More or less. I tried getting good at SNG's Full, HU SNG Turbo (which I love but can never make a profit), occasional cash games (never too good), and recently 6-MAX shootout 36players satellite winner take all.

Well one of my main problems is tilt. I need to work on that. Also I play to impulsive, don't really think about what I'm doing. So I need to work on those.

But I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction on getting better at poker in general? Read books, and play? is that about it? Help please

Another one of my main problems is trying to hard to outsmart my opponent. I'll make dumb rasied, calls, and folds, because of what I've seen on TV, I assume. Any tips on getting out of the habit of that?

Keep it simple and find what works for you and stick with it
TV has almost ruined the new players view of how the game should be played in my experience and you should try as hard as possible not to emulate their plays but instead try to take advantage of other players doing this
at first i suggest sticking to abc poker and trying to find the game that suits you best (you get most profit in) then build your roll to a satisfactory level to move up in stakes
inti

It looks like you need more discipline in your game. Make it simple as said above.

But I am not sure at what stakes you want to play, I play at the lowest stakes and there discipline is the end-all. If you just keep it simple, only play the major hands, fold when they raise high etc. When you have trips or the top 2-pair just smack them allin as soon as you can and many of them will follow if they have a flush draw.

About tilt. I never tilt, I walk away. Maybe you should practice that. Every time you get a really bad beat that upsets you, try shutting down the session, and don't play poker for the next 2 hours.

thank you very much for the responses, I will try try our what you suggested.

okay my ROI has dropped to about zero man but to be honest with you go download poker tracker 3 and use the 60 day trial. Your going to need to start looking at the hands you play and reviewing your game. Learn to use this program and I promise your game will improve. It did for me!

OP, one thing that has helped my game tremendously, aside from game selection, is situational awareness.

Meaning that even though you hold good cards (or bad cards, but that is irrelevant to this) you must look at the situation as a whole. What could my opponents do if I just call? Will I get raised? Will I be able to call that raise? What is my stack/blind ratio? If I raise and get called what plan do I have for the flop if I miss? If I hit? What is my position in relation to the biggest stack? The shortest?

Sound confusing? Yeah, I probably got a bit rambly there. Point is, you have to consider that your actions will have consequences and reactions and try to judge what those may be. Time and practice will help tremendously, but while you pay each hand just take your time and think things through.

Try to never act or react without a reason for doing so.

okay thank you all so much for your help. i understand what you're saying TheKAAHK and I'll try remembering that throughout each hand.
i love heads up turbo sit n gos and was wondering if anyone could suggest things to help improve my game?
My main problem with them though is when I tilt, I tilt pretty bad. And since they're fast games you can lose money quick. I have been trying to control my tilt.

My advice is to play more straightforward poker. I try not to make clever plays against most people - just bet and raise when you think you have the best hand and fold when you don't.

Dealing with tilt is a skill that is vital to profitable poker. What too many people do is stop playing when they're winning, hoping to log an up day, and keep playing when they're losing to win it back. If you find yourself doing that, step back and look at the logic - do you want to play MORE when you're losing or LESS? The answer should be fairly obvious.

A great solution to tilt is just walking away, but this isn't always easy to do. My solution is somewhat different but on the offchance it works for you I'll divulge it. My favorite candy is Swedish Fish, they're delightful. What I do is keep a bag near my computer and every time I lose a coinflip or am dealt a bad beat, I let myself have one. Since I started doing this I've had much less trouble from tilt

My suggestion for you would be to NOT play HU sng's.
From reading a somewhat limited amount of info. on you here, but from hearing what your preferences are... it sounds to me like you're an 'action junkie' & are often trying to outplay your opponents, then perhaps running into hands & finding yourself where you've depleted your stack.

My advice would be > find ONE game you want to give a go at. then> Study that one format til' you know it inside & out. For a new-'ish' player, SNG/STT is probably a good place to start (non-turbo).