If the fear of standing on a set of scales has set in yet, or the panic of squeezing into that favourite skirt or jeans leaves you de-motivated and wondering which way to turn in 2010, you’re not alone. Millions of others in the new-year take desperate measures to lose weight and get back into shape and with so many different options out there it’s not surprising that we’re left wondering which is the best and safest avenue to take.

Sadly not everyone takes the ‘health’ issue seriously and diet pills, liposuction, tummy tucks and any number of other radical solutions will be on the agenda for some in 2010. But if you’re in search for a lifestyle change there are some excellent options out there, you just need to find the one that suits you, and one that you can maintain.

Working in gyms, especially in January, I see a massive influx of new members signing three or twelve month contracts, but the shocking reality is that more than half of these will barely last two or three weeks before losing the motivation to continue and the same can be said for some diet plans out there. Unfortunately the way in-which our body works, there’s a definite down-side to going on any eating plan that you are unable to sustain – your body, once it returns to its normal eating pattern will pile on the fat more than before, leaving most people disheartened and wondering how they will ever be at their ideal weight for any length of time. The secret is to find a routine that you can stick to where the foods you are eating are enjoyable and that you retrain the way your mind thinks about food consumption.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with eating what you enjoy. Pizzas, chocolate, fried foods – they all twang the taste buds into bliss, but when this happens too often we get into a routine, where healthy foods don’t give the same kick! So, look at it this way, we need to re-train our taste buds to enjoying the foods that were put here naturally. Some of you will be screaming ‘but I hate vegetables’, and ‘why would I want to eat natural, wholesome foods when I can satisfy myself with take-aways, crisps, cakes, and pastries’. Well, let’s have a look around our midsections and for some the answer is preventing the line of sight to our feet! For some it’s about knowing what’s wrong and ignoring it, but for others it’s pure lack of education about nutrition that leaves the nation wondering why they’re buying new clothes every few months because the others simply don’t fit!

We’re getting better – food labelling is assisting those with little know-how. Learning your carbohydrates from your proteins and fats (and their roles) is a good place to start and then probably the biggest misconception is about portion control. Chances are you will either wake up and skip or have breakfast, eat lunch mid-day and then fill your plate in the evening, because you haven’t eaten since lunch. This is where most of the problem lies, as we over eat and ‘fill’ up our tanks three times daily instead of grazing.

You fill your box daily from a list of three food groups, still eating your normal breakfast and evening meal. It’s varied, there’s no calorie counting and it’s a sustainable plan and more of a lifestyle change.

Pre planning is the key to any weight loss goal – if we don’t think ahead to what we’re going to eat then chances are we grab what we can and often this means convenience foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, a quick-fire way to put you on the slippery slope to a weight problem. Sadly once people start putting on serious volumes of weight, emotional issues can star to occur including lack of self-confidence and depression which isn’t surprising if you think you have reached the ‘no way back’ stage. This is somewhere I have been personally and the only way out is to change your eating routines, change your taste buds back to how they should be and take up exercise. Of course, you can lose weight without additional exercise, but you increase calories burned which means a quicker route to your goal.

Eating vegetables, fruits and meats in their most natural form will provide you with an exceptional amount of energy and health benefits. By spreading these throughout the day you will avoid mid-afternoon slumps in energy and boost your metabolic rate, the way in which your body burns fat. Remember, plan ahead, go for something you’re likely to sustain and you’ll be on a sure fire route to a healthier body.