Losing Weight and keeping it off!

Losing Weight and keeping it off!

If you've been working hard already in 2015 to shed the excess pounds you gained over the Christmas period then good on you! It's a decision that will benefit you now and in the long term but often the biggest challenge when you start to lose weight is sticking to your winning formula and ensuring the weight stays off. The following simple tips will help to ensure that when you start to see the results you have worked so hard for, you can keep up the momentum and stay on the straight and narrow!

 

1. Know your foods

2. Eat breakfast

3. Get active

4. Plan and track for success

 

Know your foods

It sounds like common sense but it is where most people fail, to lose weight and improve your health you have to follow a healthy and balanced diet plan, in order to follow a healthy diet you need to understand the foods you should be eating. By knowing your foods you will be able to make the right choices when you do your next supermarket shop or when you go our for your next work lunch. So read our guide to the different food groups and spend some time learning as much as you need to about food before plunging head first into a diet of leaves and water! Diets don't have to be as dull as you may think!

 

Eat breakfast

And whatever you do, remember to eat breakfast! IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY!! It really is, eating breakfast has been proven to support greater weight loss by keeping you satisfied for longer and reducing the chances of you reaching for those unhealthy mid-morning snacks. Choose a healthy carbohydrate source like oats or wholegrain bread to give you that longer lasting energy and a good protein source like low fat yoghurt or poached eggs.

 

Get Active

This doesn't necessarily mean spending all your money on a gym membership, there are various ways in which you can keep yourself moving and your metabolism healthy. Try your best to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate exercise daily whether it's a gym session, a run or a brisk walk. Being active isn't an excuse for putting away some extra calories as a reward though for your exercise efforts as that would just be counterproductive!

 

Plan and track for success

You don't need to get obsessive with planning but as the old cliche goes 'you can't manage what you can't measure' so we'd highly recommend keeping some form of food diary and a record of your physical activity for the week. By doing this you will be able to spot trends, for example, you might start to feel more energetic on days you participate in exercise or see that your weight creeps up during periods where you haven't been able to stay active during heavy work periods. By recognising these scenarios before they happen you will be able to plan to make sure you are fully prepared. When following a weight loss plan, it's good to have a weekly weigh in to make sure your weight is moving in the right direction. However, don't get too obsessed with the scales, make sure you are having a good look in the mirror to notice any physiological changes to your body and you could even a quick selfie (not to post on Twitter!!) to keep a visual record of where you were on a particular date.

 

Our last piece of advice is to surround yourself with positive people, people who understand you and accept your goals and don't judge you for having a bit of willpower and a vision of where you want to get to. Stay positive, stay healthy and remember we are always here to offer you a little bit of moral support as you continue on your weight loss journey! Good luck!