My top 15 tips on how to safely and effectively drop those pounds

 

1. Find love, allow yourself to be loved and start loving yourself

Unfortunately, we often reach for food to fulfil other nourishment lacking from our lives

 

2. Drink more water

We often mistake dehydration for hunger. Drink a glass of water and wait a few minutes. Then reassess your hunger.

 

3. Nurture yourself with nourishing wholefoods like vegetables, fruit and wholegrains

These foods provide healthy fibre and usable energy to keep you feeling full, satisfied and energised for longer.

 

4. Be sure to eat enough healthy fats

Healthy fats keep you satisfied, moisturise you from the inside out and have a host of digestive and health benefits.

 

5. Eat mindfully

Turn off the TV, put your mobile phone, IPad or laptop away and get rid of any other distractions while eating. Appreciate your food and pay attention to what you are eating to feel full and satisfied after you eat.

 

6. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner

Skipping meals affects your mood and blood sugar levels and lends to overeating and wrong food choices when you become too hungry.

 

7. Use smaller dishware

You tend to eat more when your plate or bowl holds more food. It takes less food to create a plateful using a smaller dish.

 

8. Chew well

Put your fork and knife down between bites and slow down. Chewing well aids digestion and slowing down gives your brain time to register you are full before you overeat.

 

9. Cook more

Cooking at home saves money and allows you to control the quality of the ingredients and the amount of fat, salt and source of sweetener used. Plus it will ensure your food contains lots of vitamin L (the love vitamin).

 

10. Add in to crowd out

Don’t deprive yourself by taking foods away you enjoy. Adding in new, healthier choices will naturally crowd out some of the less health foods.

 

11. Get moving

Any kind of exercise will rev up your metabolism, aid digestion and reduce stress. Take the stairs, walk to a further bus or train stop, dance along to your favourite song and do something you enjoy.

 

12. Slow down

Being calm and taking time to sit down and eat more slowly allows you to take in the tastes, smells and textures of your food, leaving you more satisfied.

 

13. Get a good night’s sleep

We often reach for quick energy foods like caffeine, sugar and other junk foods when we lack energy from too little rest and relaxation. Also, overstimulation through for example caffeine elevates your cortisol which is one of your body’s key fat storage hormones which you do not want to have out of balance.

 

14. Entertain yourself

Before eating out of sheer boredom reach for a book, an art or home improvement project or any activity that brings you pleasure.

 

15. Share your meals with others

It makes mealtime more fun and meaningful.