Hot 5 tips to fat-loss success

"An objective without a plan is a dream" (Douglas McGregor)

Like anything else in life, the key to achieving your weight loss goals has to start with a plan. Try this step-by-step guide to ensure fat loss success!

1. Create a partnership. Yes, it's always good to workout with a friend as it can help boost  motivation but what you really need to do is create a partnership with your body, rather than battle against it. Do you ever look in the mirror and think means things about your body parts that you're not happy with? If so, you may be sabotaging your own health and fat-loss efforts. Instead flip negative thoughts into positive ones. Think about what you love about your body and focus on that instead.
2. Never go out hungry when shopping for groceries. You'll ALWAYS buy more than you need. Fix yourself a protein rich snack first - try half a cup of plain, low-fat yogurt with blueberries and nuts on top.
3. Navigate your way around the supermarket aisles to avoid temptation. Go around the perimeter of the supermarket first so you get your lean meats and fresh fruit and veg. Only go into the middle aisles to get 'clean' ingredients like oatmeal, whole-grain pastas or brown rice, low-salt canned beans and veg, nuts, olive oil, spices and tea. Avoid 'buy one get one free' offers as research shows that shoppers are likely to buy 30 to 100 per cent more than they thought they would!
4. Sit and slow down when you eat. Put everything on your plate that you want and put leftovers away in the fridge BEFORE sitting down to eat. Set the fork down after every bite to help slow yourself down and eat what you most want to eat first, instead of saving it until last. That way, you won't feel the need to rush through your meal to get to it.
5. Forget dieting - don't deny yourself food. Just find healthier alternatives for your fatty faves. Instead of salty chips, choose rice crackers or popcorn (minus the salt and butter!). Instead of biscuits and cakes, choose fruit, rice cakes, or toast with fruit jam. Choose a handful of dried fruit and nuts instead of lollies.

And reward yourself - for your fat-blasting efforts...but not with food. Choose manicures or pedicures, a facial, new playlist - anything that you love and consider an indulgence, but has nothing to do with food!