by Dan Fellowes

Created on: June 17, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

I will write this article from my personal experience so I know how well it has worked. Of course, this has worked for me, but everybody being different it is hard to give common advice for all to use. Everybody likes different foods and leads different lives. Everybody has different bodies that will react differently to weight loss attempts.

Well I'll start with me, at the start of the year I was 14 and a half stone and I wasn't happy. I wasn't too overweight, but it was enough to bother me. I decided that as a new year's resolution I was going to get to a weight I wanted. I think this was a helpful step in the process, setting a target weight, and a target time to get there by. I also worked out roguhly how much it would mean losing per week etc. to give myself a better idea of what I had to do. I think it is important to understand what you are aiming to lose.

The next tip is a bit obvious, but being a self-conscious teenage boy it held me back for a long time. Tell the people you are living with about your diet and plans. I tried secret dieting and as my parents choose all the food I am eating, it didn't work very well at all. Telling others allows them to encourage you when you need it. Also, with others knowing about it, it gives you more reason not to give in to temptation.

So my actual dietary changes weren't too big, but they had a great effect. The main changes for me were going from Frosted Shreddies (around 600kcal per bowl) for breakfast every morning to Bran Flakes (around 180kcal per bowl). I also have made the tough change from white bread (120kcal per slice) to wholemeal bread (80 kcal per slice) as well as changing from butter to low fat olive spread. I think these three changes have contributed most to my weight loss. I think most people could find a few things they have often and change them for a low fat alternative. The taste might not be so great, but you'll get used to it eventually, and the effects are obvious soon enough.

Do not give up when you see no effects after the first month or so, the way my body worked I stayed at a certain weight for a month or so and then suddenly dropped half a stone in a week, then back to the plateau for a month before seeing any more changes. I would prefer to see the changes continuously but unfortunately it's not always possible. Stick with it, the sight of the scales telling you you've lost weight is worth it.

Exercise is obviously important to weight loss, keeping active as often as you can will help. This doesn't mean doing hyperactive sports all day every day. Just take walks occasionally, a bike ride once or twice a week if you've got somewhere nice to go. Have a walk to the shops rather than driving every now and again, all of it builds up. I've taken to weight lifting and sit ups, because they are things I can do easily in my house but I understand they're not for everyone.

Weight loss doesn't have to be as torturous as it is made out to be. A few simple life changes can lead to a continuous length of time losing weight and by the end you don't even notice you're trying to lose it. Since starting on the 1st January I have lost 3 stone, and am currently on target for my goal which is coming up soon. Remember to stay determined. Stick with it and the results will show. The feeling at the end is worth it; a new you that you can be proud of.

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