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Be more confident

If you analyse it then just having a flat stomach isn't going to dramatically change your life, but it can help give you more confidence and let you feel more in control - enough perhaps to go for that new job, ditch the bad relationship or merely just wear that sexy pencil skirt or skinny jeans you once pictured yourself in. If you want something badly enough you will do it!

Stop letting imperfections prevent you living every day to the full and enjoying it. If you are determined to change your body you need to look at your lifestyle.

Consider ways to make it easier for you to reach your goal - chuck out the temptations in your cupboards, fill your fridge with delicious easy to snack healthy treats (luscious berries rather than boring old carrot sticks!)
Learn to love the beautiful body and skin you are in.

We can help you start and maintain your new eating and exercise plan with lots of hints and help to support you. Believe you can do it - we know you can.

If you want to make sure you keep to your weight loss plan this year - don't set your targets too high. Remember:
The reason most diets and weight loss plans fail is because they are unsustainable.

So it's important that you don't aim to do too much, too soon - take some time to find out which diet will suit you best and don't set yourself up with a diet and exercise regime that you won't be able (or want) to keep up. Check out our: Top diets
We've added some great diet tips and some fun pics which show how celebrities look so good on magazine covers, plus Top 10 diet and weight loss tips

How to lose weight successfully and keep it off

lose weight successfullyAs the saying goes, moderation in all things - the reason most diets and weight loss plans fail is because they are unsustainable. You might start off with the best of intentions, a new gym membership and an 800 calorie a day intake but if you set yourself too high a target, you'll miss it and end up disheartened and reaching for the chocs.

It's much better to set a realistic target and accept that 2 hours a day in the gym is fine if you're a Hollywood star or top model, but it doesn't fit in with the lifestyles that most of us have. It's much better to increase your level of exercise gradually to a level that doesn't disrupt your life too much.

Likewise with your diet - too great a drop in your calorific intake leaves you hungry and prone to snacking or bingeing.

It's always tempting to go for a quick fix but a crash diet is hard to stick to in the short-term and can adversely affect your health. Take it easy and lose weight steadily, that way it is much more likely it will stay off!

Don't be too downhearted if you've faltered and reached for the biscuits or chocolate. The important thing is not that that you failed once or twice but that you don't give up. Everyone has the odd lapse, just accept that it happens and carry on with your diet. Use your diet slip to learn about your eating habits and make sure you cover it with remedies, such as, readily available healthy snacks or non-food treats. It will be worth it when you achieve your target weight!

We eat more, exercise less and have ready access to fast appealing food all hours. We are more busy in our sedentary lifestyle, seem to have less time available and crave relaxation not food preparation!
After the stress of a long day in front of the computer, most of us tend to relax in front of the tv. It's hard to find the time and energy to fit exercise and healthy eating into our busy schedules, but it is becoming obvious with recent health figures that it is vital for our health.

Why do some people never put on weight? BBC Report - opens in new window

Choosing the right diet

Are you the type of person who wants a prescriptive diet - one that tells you exactly what and how much to eat at each meal?
Then you may find Calorie Counting the ideal choice - with your comprehensive list of how many calories are contained within each food, you can happily weigh and work out exactly what you can eat daily and steadily lose weight. The best way to be successful at this is to keep a food diary of everything you eat. WeightWatchers uses an easy point system, which simplifies calorie counting but works on the same principle.

Before and after A popular choice for those good at organising their meals down to the percentage of carbohydrate, fat and protein - specifically at a ratio of 40-30-30 - is the Zone diet. The diet plan is very specific and depends on your gender, activity level, and current percentage of body fat. If you don't like the idea of giving up your favourite foods for good, the Alternate day diet might suit, as you can still have your cake and eat it!

If you prefer to avoid calorie counting and concentrate on eating specific foods, then the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet, South Beach or GI diet may suit you. The popular Atkins diet is really four diet plans in one - The Induction, Ongoing Weight Loss, Pre-Maintenance and finally Maintenance stage. Carbohydrate foods are reduced and replaced with fat and protein - bacon and egg for breakfast as opposed to cereals. The diet states this will change your metabolism and enable you to lose weight easily.
Many supermarkets are now marking their food with carbo content and GI high or low scores, due to the popularity of these diets.

Exercise for life

Lack of exercise is responsible for 2 million deaths worldwide every year. Health experts recommend at least half an hour of moderate exercise five days a week to reach a satisfactory fitness level.

Exercise increases your metabolic rate and burns calories. The good news is that you will also be strengthening your immune system and building toning muscle. The extra weight of muscle will help you burn more calories and help you towards your goal of fast weight loss.