You're probably reading this because your just sick and tired of all the weight loss gurus pushing and pulling you in all directions, bombarding you with fad diet plans and exhaustive exercise systems.
Maybe you feel you've tried everything and nothing seems to work in the long run. I mean, anyone can loose a few pound or even a couple of stone, but sooner or later you have to come off the diet and that's where it all go's wrong.
You see, my approach is one that has transformed my life completely. From being over weight with health problems, to being healthy and fit with lots of energy, and I didn't even have to try that hard.
Enough's enough!
I think there comes a time in everyone's life when they stare at them selves in the mirror and say "enough's enough"! Well, my time came around three years ago when a tragedy turned my life up side down. A life long friend of mine died of a brain aneurysm. I was consumed with grief and needed something to focus on.
So that day in work I said to a college, "I'm gona run 10 miles"...
As you can imagine, these words coming from a chubby, depressed man would be hard for anyone to believe. In fact, I thing my college may have laughed...
That day I contacted a charity related to brain injury and run two miles (it nearly killed me). I knew I couldn't achieve this without a bit of research, and soon discovered that losing weight and getting fit was pretty much down to the food I ate.
Anyway, long story short, A few months later, I run the 10 miles (with ease I must say) on my friends birthday with all his family there supporting me. It was one of them days in my life I will never forget. We raised almost £1000 for charity.
Although I ran three times a week, I believe my success was mostly down to a few simple dietary rules I followed and stuck too. If you adopt theses simple principles, I'm SURE you could drop the weight you want and turn you life around like I did.
My five tips for fast, lasting weight loss
1. Always be prepared:
You'd be surprised how much junk food an average household stocks at any one time. It is vital you don't have any temptations lying around, as the road ahead maybe challenging enough.
Always being prepared is about no distractions, no temptations and planning each meal in advance. Sit down and write a shopping list with your diet in mind, then go shopping and only get whats on the list.
If your a busy mum or work long hours it's so easy to fall into the trap of grabbing some fast food where it's convenient. Taking a healthy packed launch to work or simply having it in the fridge ready to grab is so important. You could prepare it the night before.
2. Get to know calories:
If you've ever been on a diet you've probably counted calories at some time. This is a great way of managing what you eat.
Its a good idea to find out your body mass index (BMI), so that you have an accurate point to start from. On average, a women needs around 2000 calories a day and a man 2500. To loss weigh, the general idea is to cut down your calorie intake by 500 per day.
Get use to looking at nutritional information on food labels. Maybe write them down and make a list to stick on your fridge for reference.
3. Eat more, lose more:
This is so important! You should aim to eat five - six small meals a day. If you haven't got the time then just grab an apple or something.
Remember! Hunger is the enemy here. Don't allow yourself to get hungry as this may result in you stumbling off the wagon and grabbing that sugar fix.
Also, skipping meals definitely isn't the way to shed pounds. Keep focused on planning your next meal.
4. Simple food swap:
Choosing healthier foods isn't as hard as you think. It's all about changing a few of your eating habits one step at a time. This alone can get you on track to achieving your goal weight.
Swap breads and bagels for wholegrain versions. These are not only healthier and lower in calories, they keep you fuller for longer.
Try eating more lower calorie proteins such as poultry and fish, and only cook with lean cuts of meat. By cutting the fat off a ration of bacon or taking the skin of a chicken before cooking can dramatically reduce the calories.
It is very important to educate yourself on what the fat, sugar, salt and calorie levels are in what you eat. This will shine a light on your diet and help you identify what's holding you back from achieving your ideal weight.
5. Get more active:
Now I realize the word EXERCISE for someone like I was a few years ago, can be quite uncomfortable and even scary. The idea of going to the gym or exercise class was the furthest thing from my mind, but there's other options...
I would recommend running to anyone, no matter their weight or age. But I realize running isn't for everyone so here's a few ideas to help you get more active in your everyday life. Remember, the more calories you burn, the more weight you lose.
If you take the bus to work, get off a bus stop or two earlier and work the rest. Also make a conscious effort to walk and take the stairs as much as you can.
If possible, try to designate an hour every day to work out to an exercise DVD or some other form of workout method that suits you.
One thing that first got me hooked on working out was the fact that, after exercise I felt on top of the world. This is down to the release of endorphins in the brain when you exercise, which fills you with a sense of well being.
So if you really are looking to make a lasting change in your life, you must have discipline and turn these five tips into everyday habits. And we all know how hard habits are to kick...
