How to Stay Slim for Life: Top Tips for Easy Permanent Weight Loss

Firstly: Before I discuss diets or mention any tips for permanent weight loss, you must be realistic about your weight. It's important to know the recommended weight for your build and your height. Get a clean bill of health from your Doctor before you make any drastic changes to your diet, especially if you are taking medication, have an illness, are pregnant or are very overweight.

Secondly: Don't make silly excuses, just get on with it. Lying about what you eat, what you drink or how many times you've gone for a walk this week makes absolutley no difference to anyone but you. Look at the bigger picture: if you lie about your diet or your exercise the only one your kidding is yourself. We have eyes and we can see - You're still fat!

A sensible approach to weight loss is crucial to be effective and more importantly to be permanent. Patience is the key to weight loss and will power is a must. Dieting also requires an independent approach based on your own individual needs and of course your body type. If you are very overweight or are carrying your weight in one particular area of your body more than other areas and you lose weight too quickly you are in danger of the following...

• Putting all the weight back on, plus even more weight.
• Binge eating.
• Having loose saggy hanging skin and folds of skin especially around the stomach, inner thigh and upper arm areas.
• Being bad tempered and irritable.
• Suffering from headaches and dizziness.
• Suffering with constipation or diarrhea.
• Being tired/lethargic.
• Feeling sapped of all energy.

• The average woman needs 2000 calories a day and the average man 2500 calories a day. You will need to cut those calories by 500. Girls you're down to 1500 calories a day and boys you have 2000 calories a day.
• As you lose weight you need to tone up. It is essential that you exercise. Add in a 30 minute brisk walk 4 times a week, and you will burn off a further 500 calories per week.
• Visit your local swimming baths twice a week for a 30 minute swim and you'll burn a further 420 calories per week. Better still opt for the ocean and you'll burn even extra calories swimming in the surf.
• Walk whenever possible, wherever possible: park your car a little further away from work; get off the bus two stops before your stop, get up 20 minutes earlier and go for a quick stroll.
• Pass on the elevator and take the stairs whenever possible.
• Keep active during the day; stretch your limbs if sitting for long periods at work.
• Potter at home or in the garden. Every single movement you make burns calories even those mundane household chores. Bottom line: get moving.

Count your steps and count your calories; an essential part of any healthy lifestyle is eating the correct amount of calories for your body weight. A walking pedometer calorie counter will help you achieve this very easily. In-fact you might even find your competive side, set your own targets and challenge yourself.

The 3DTriSport Walking Pedomemter (as seen below) is an ideal and accurate step counter with a 30 day memory. You can also set your target on a daily basis. This particular pedometer comes with a clip and strap with distances in miles and kilometres. I especially like it as it's small and neat and the settings are easy to program.

• Bin The Fat:

Chose lean cuts of meat and trim off any excess fat. Crackling and crispy skin are laden with calories and fat; not to mention the effect fat has on your heart and your arteries.

• Always Eat Breakfast:

A piece of fruit, a smoothie or a yogurt drink are better than nothing. The reason behind this; to kick start your system. Meaning your bowel movements will be regular and your system flushed through. A healthy digestive system is important even more so when losing weight. Missing breakfast won't help you lose weight.

• Don't Eat Too Many Green Leafy Vegetables:

Too many green leafy vegetables for example cabbage, kale and spinach can cause wind and bloating to the stomach. Eat a good variety of vegetables, not just leafy ones.

• Eat Fruit On It's Own:

Fruit takes time to digest. Eating fruit too close to your main meals can cause unease in your stomach. The food can sit in your stomach for a considerable time before digesting completely. This will make you feel sluggish and lazy.

• Keep A Food Diary:

Yes, a food diary. It's amazing how many people grab a biscuit, pinch a few fries or eat their kids leftovers and don't recall doing it.

• Know What Your Eating:

Low fat products often contain almost the same calories and fat as the real McCoy. You eat twice has much thinking that it's ok, when in actual fact you'd be better off sticking with a little of the full fat version.

• Buy A Calorie Counter:

It's amazing the foods that have a high fat and/or calorie content. Some breakfast cereals carry more calories than a poached egg on toast. Your average bagel can tip the scales at 300 calories; without the cream cheese.

• Opt For Fresh Juice:

Many shop bought juices are full of sugar. A glass of juice goes towards your five a day.

• Make A Batch Of Homemeade Soup:

Soup is a filling, low fat snack and goes toward your five a day. Make a big batch of healthy homemade soup and freeze in individual portions, defrost as required.

• Tell Your Friends And Family:

Tell your family and your friends you've decided to improve your health. You may even get a few supporters along the way. Exercising with a few friends will help motivate you, especially in the beginning.

Ask for a blitzer for your birthday and blitz away those hunger pangs with delicious low calorie soups and tasty fruit smoothies. I have the Elite Gourmet blender, it's perfect for soups and smoothies. I particularly like the hand held blitzer because it's qeasy to use and super quick to clean.

I realise some people may think 1500 calories a day is very little food, but that doesn't have to be the case. There are many foods that are tasty, low in fat and low in calories. In fact check out the link: Zero Calorie Foods to bulk up your menu without you bulking up too.

Below is a sample menu to give you an idea of the amount of food you can eat for 1500 calories.

Breakfast:

• 200 ml of fresh orange juice 60 cals
• 2 small poached eggs 140 cals
• 2 grilled pieces of lean bacon 100 cals
• 1 grilled tomato 20 cals
• 1 grilled waffle 95 cals
• black coffee 5 cals

Total calories 420

Lunch:

• cup of soup 100 cals
• small brown roll 100 cals
• 1/2 teaspoon of butter 35 cals

Total calories 235

Dinner:

• 5 oz chicken breast grilled 150 cals
• 1 medium jacket potato 160 cals
• 1 corn on the cob 90 cals
• 1 cup of steamed broccoli 10 cals
• 1/2 teaspoons of butter (for your vegetables) 105 calories

Total calories 515

Extras:

• 2 sml plums 80 cals
• 2 shortbread biscuits 80 cals
• 1 x 150 ml glass of white wine 100 cals
• 1 after eight dinner mint 35 cals

Total calories 295

Total calories for the day 1465 calories

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Boys can add a few extra calories, for example: add an extra waffle at breakfast 95 cals; an extra roll and butter and double your soup at lunch 235 cals; an extra jacket potato for dinner 160 cals; an extra piece of fruit 40 cals.

Total calories for the day 1995 calories

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The above menu doesn't scream of a diet: it's simply eating a little healthier. Losing weight is not about dropping stones in weeks, it's about teaching yourself and your family to eat healthier and to appreciate your body and what you put into it. Little tips like the ones I've mentioned are very easy to add to your daily lives and with very little effort. Being aware of your food and what you eat will make a huge difference to your waistline and to your bank balance.

Don't put losing weight off any longer, start now, start today. A little exercise and a few changes in your diet will carve the way to a slimmer, trimmer you. Dieting doesn't have to be a plate of salad and treats don't have to be banned. Losing weight really can be easy and healthy. Be aware and start to care about your body today. Good luck, and remember: slow weight loss is successful weight loss and successful weight loss is permanent weight loss and permanent weight loss is our aim.

Invest in good underwear that compliments your body shape: streamline your silhouette and face your day with confidence. We all know about the spanx effect: take control and get some support.