Step 1: Always Eat Breakfast



Everyone's heard the famous saying 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day'. It's more than just a saying its absolutely proven to be true.

Nothing gets our metabolism going faster than breakfast after a good night's sleep.

Sleeping causes our metabolism to slow right down and breakfast helps us to kick start it up again.

However having an unhealthy breakfast won't help so the key is to have breakfast and make sure it's healthy. Try to incorporate wholegrain cereals and breads, low fat dairy products like milk and yoghurt and fruit.

Step 2: Drink Loads of Water and Get Plenty of Sleep

You need to make sure you drink lots off water throughout the day. Water has many health benefits and helping with dieting is one of them. The more water you drink the less hungry you'll be as you will feel full and it helps detoxify your body.

Make sure you get enough sleep as this will ensure your body gets enough time to recuperate and face any challenge.

Step 3: Calories, Calories, Calories

You have to know how many calories you are eating. If your daily calorie intake is more than the amount of calories you burn then you will put on weight. It's a game of numbers. You need to know how many calories you need to maintain your current weight and then drop 50 calories a day and you will begin to lose weight.

Once you know these things, you also need to keep track of how many calories you consume each day so that you can compare them to your target and make any necessary adjustments.

Writing down your calorie consumption after each meal will help you realize how much of an effect the little piece of candy here and the occasional cookie there has on your weight.

We usually eat the same foods so you should familiarise yourself with the amount off calories in your usual foods. Try cutting the portions if need be.

Step 4: Take your time

You shouldn't try to lose weight too quickly. This could also have a detrimental effect on your health as the sudden change will shock the body.

Don't forget we want to burn the fat on our bodies not all the muscle. For our bodies to burn fat we need to exercise at a certain heart rate if our heart rate is too high it is easier for our bodies to get energy by burning proteins and carbohydrates in our body instead of the fat.

Rapid and significant weight loss from dieting alone is usually indicative of a very calorie restrictive diet which is also counterproductive because for most of us it is unsustainable.

Step 5: Exercise (don't panic)

Muscle and activity keep our metabolism up which is why weight training to build or maintain our muscle mass and aerobic activity like walking, jogging, cycling and swimming are so important to those of us wanting to lose weight

Dieting alone is not the best route to weight loss and to staying in an ideal weight range.

To lose weight safely and keep it off for as long as possible, always combine dieting and exercise.

Finally, I just want to say you should have a goal. You need something to motivate you and embed that into your mind so that when you feel low you can visualise your goal and motivation and this will keep you strong. Never underestimate the power the mind has over the body.