12 tips to help you lose weight
Updated: Jan 17, 2021
Get 2021 off to the best possible start with our 12 tips to help you lose weight.
Get active
Increasing your activity levels is key to weight loss.
Physical activity is great for your physical and mental health.
As well as the numerous health benefits that come with being active, exercise also helps to burn calories which can make weight loss easier.
I always recommend a target of at least 10,000 steps a day and some form of strength training two to three times a week.
Read and understand food labels
Educate yourself.
Knowing what's in the food and drink that you consume can help you to choose the healthier option.
Understanding the number of calories in a particular food enables you to work out how it then fits into your daily calorie allowance.
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
Most of us know that fruit and veg are low in calories and high in essential nutrients.
Many fruits and veggies also weigh a lot, which means you can add bulk to your diet, without overloading calories.
For example, a meal consisting of a 150g grilled chicken breast, a 300g jacket potato, 20g of butter and 30g low-fat cheese provides a total weight of 500g and provides 790 calories.
Swap that meal for a 130g chicken breast, a 200g potato, 5g of butter, 80g broccoli, 45g carrots and 40g green salad, and you still have an overall weight of 500g, but for just 480 calories.
You will feel just as full after eating the second meal as you would the first, but you've cut 310 calories. Enough to help you lose 1/2lb a week without dropping the amount of food you eat.
Drink water
Water is a healthy, zero-calorie and cheap choice for quenching your thirst.
People often confuse feelings of hunger with thirst. They then eat extra calories when actually all they need is a drink of water.
Plan what you eat
Plan your meals, snacks and shopping list for the week.
There's nothing worse than feeling hungry and not knowing what to eat. You end up reaching for the quickest available option, which is usually not the best choice.