Weight loss is a big concern for many people and something that can be a continual struggle throughout our lifetime. Finding the balance between enjoying our lives and staying Healthy can be difficult – nobody finds living off lettuce fun! We all know the things we can do to maintain a healthy body; exercise, nutritious food and everything in moderation, but certain habits are easy to adopt and can make a significant difference to you waistline. Here are 10 simple ways to lose weight.

1. Eat Slowly – Take your time over your meals, it will help you feel fuller faster and aids the digestion process. This is a relatively easy change to make but the impact on your health and weight is huge.

2. Use Smaller Plates – Studies show that when we use smaller plates we eat less which in turn contributes to Weight Loss. The psychological affect of seeing a big empty plate makes you want to fill it up and hence you end up overeating – ditch the big plates and reap the rewards.

3. 20 Minute Rule – It takes around 20 minutes for your body to recognise that you’re getting full so if you wolf down a huge meal in minutes chances are you’ve eaten more than you really needed to. Take a break three quarters of the way through your meal and see if you are still hungry after some time passes. If not, don’t finish it.

4. Eat Mindfully – Think about what you are eating, don’t mindlessly reach for a bag of sweets and start chewing or eat your dinner by the television. If you think about your meals and you concentrate on what you are eating, you will recognise that you are done. Eating for boredom or to accompany other activities is a surefire way to gain weight.

5. Plan Your Meals – Eat at very specific times everyday, your body loves a routine. Staying healthy starts with planning, make a meal plan filled with nutritious food for the week and stick to it. If you know when and what you’ll be eating you won’t reach for unhealthy foods or have sporadic binges as frequently.

6. Avoid Hidden Sugars – Cut out the foods and drinks that are making you gain weight without you even realising it. If it doesn’t make you full after but is still extremely high in sugar and calories, avoid like the plague. Sugary, carbonated drinks offer no nutritional value but will make you gain weight rapidly when consumed in high or even moderate quantities. Stick to water when reaching for a drink.

7. More Protein, Less Carbs – Carbs are bad news when it comes to your weight. If you have a sugary, carb laden diet you will find it very difficult to lose weight. Swap your carbs for protein and vegetables, keep things as lean as possible. High protein diets make you feel very full so you stop obsessing about eating.

8. Eat A Big Breakfast – Start your day right with a large, satisfying but healthy breakfast. Porridge oats, eggs or fresh fruit are all good options for a healthy diet. It is important to eat a good breakfast, it kick starts your metabolism and if you skip it you are in danger and becoming to hungry and binging on unhealthy foods mid morning or at lunch.

9. Drink Coffee Or Tea – Caffeinated drinks speed up your metabolism which promotes weight loss. Just don’t over do it as you don’t want to get jittery!

10. Get More Sleep – Sleep is a constant factor in maintaining a healthy body and mind. It has been proven that poor sleep leads to significant weight gain so get your sleep routine in order.

Keep in mind that the fastest way to lose weight is to consume less and move more and you can’t go wrong. However we hope these tips and tricks will get you on your way to a healthier, happier you!