We all know deep down when we're overweight. Pants that used to fit don't anymore; we don't want to look in the mirror; we puff and pant when we walk upstairs. But every time we think we'll finally do something about losing some weight and embark on a nothing-nice-at-all diet, it's just too damned hard!

I can tell you exactly why. No, you're not a useless failure with the willpower of a beetle. You just tried to do too much too soon, that's all.

First, accept that losing weight is a gradual and slow process. After all, you didn't put all that weight on overnight, now did you? And the human body is designed to put weight on easily and lose it reluctantly - it's a basic survival trait that we're all programmed with.

The secret? Change your eating habits gradually. If you are eating 2 donuts a day with your lattes, start by cutting down to one. Replace the other one with a banana and you've just started a new habit - a healthy one this time. Bananas, along with most fruits, are a powerhouse of healthy nutrition, vitamins and fibre. Choose Fairtrade, and you're helping the growers too.

Think about what you'll eat each day, before you get too hungry - keep salad items, fruit and veg, lean cooked meats, low fat cheese, tinned fish, Baked Beans and granary bread in the house at all times and then you'll always be able to rustle up a healthy meal or snack when you're starving and you won't be tempted to speed-dial the local takeout!

If you just change 1 bad habit at a time, within a month you should start to notice the difference - and you'll definitely feel a whole lot better about yourself. Remember, a journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. Go ahead and take that first step - and feel proud of yourself for doing so.

If you would like to read our other articles - which are full of good ideas and helpful tips for achieving the weight loss and healthier lifestyle that we are all looking for - please have a look at our site Tubbyornotobe

All the best,