Success Stories

Nicola's Top 10 Tips
The easy way to lose weight!

1. Portion size
Weigh your food and measure your drinks, you'll be amazed by what you think you have and the amount you actually put on your plate.

2. Honesty
Use the diary to keep a record of everything you eat and you'll honestly calculate your calorie intake.  It's sometimes hard to see those calories mount up, but don't forget to add those sneaky biscuits or chocolate bars.  You're fooling no-one but yourself! 

3. Snacking
Buy lots of fruit and veg and always have them at both home and work.  That way, if you want a snack reach for those instead of something sugary.  They're a lot less calories and you'll feel better for it.

4. Water
Drink lots of water.  It fills you up so you don't want as much food and sometimes when you think you're hungry it's just your body saying it's dehydrated.

5. Exercise
Make it fun.  Don't do something you don't enjoy because you won't stick to it.  Make it part of your weekly or daily routine - this really helps and exercise doesn't become a chore.

6. Balance
Use the diary to balance your food with exercise.  I know that if I want to have a bag of cheese & onion crisps I have to run up the stairs at work for 10 minutes.  Easy!

7. Setting goals and rewarding success
It's really important to set goals.  They don't all have to be weight related.  The most important thing is to make sure you reward your success.  That will motivate you to reach your next goal.

8. Motivation
Use the forum to discuss ideas and generally have a chat with other members.  The help and advice you get really helps keep you motivated.

9. Small steps
I found making lots of small changes worked well.  Using Lifestyle Mate I could see the effect the changes would have.  Here are some of the changes I made:

• swapped semi-skimmed to skimmed milk
• keep packets of raisins in my desk draw for a snack
• where possible I walk instead of taking the car
• swapped all bar 1 of my cups of coffee for hot water

10. Weekly emails
Follow the advice and hints on the weekly emails Lifestyle Mate send.  They really help and guide you to make small changes.  Making changes to your lifestyle really does keep the weight off for good!

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