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If you want to know how to successfully lose weight and stay healthy for life, below are 5 easy steps to help you lose the weight -

1. So many people like the idea of learning and reading about the most talked about diet plan but never put any of the techniques into practice. They become fairly knowledgeable about weight loss and know how many calories the most popular foods contain. What they fail to do however, is put to use that information. Instead, they buy another diet book because the first one didn’t work. In other words, just do it. However, if you are just starting out, don’t complicate yourself with tonnes of information. Start off simple and keep it simple – as you progress gain more knowledge.

2. Eat small meals regularly, say 6 mini meals, and ensure you are eating enough. By eating more often and in controlled portions, you can control the cravings. Just ensure you fill your plate with plenty of fiber, protein and healthy fat. Don’t get into the habit of eating too little – this will cause your metabolic rate to drop so steer clear of diets that advocate eating less than 1200 calories per day. You may lose a lot of weight whilst on these but most of it will be muscle mass and water weight, not fat – and it’s the fat you want rid of!

3. Water is best. So cut down on the soda habit and drink water. Not only is it calorie free, water can help shed the pounds by increasing your metabolism. While the science behind this concept is the subject of on-going research, studies have shown that drinking more water can significantly boost your metabolic rate and thus burn even more calories. Plus, drinking cold water can increase your metabolism even more, since the body must expend more energy to warm it up.

4. Never compare yourself to others. Each of us is a unique individual with our own unique genetic make up which controls some of our weight gain, weight loss and even how our muscles respond to training. Don’t rate your accomplishments according to the achievements of others; instead continue at your own pace and your own goals. If you try too hard you simply set yourself up to fail.

5. Eat less processed foods. Today there are too many convenient foods around, so try to cut back on the fast foods, deep fried foods and take outs. Instead, get into the habit of eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and more grains. Foods with a lower GI mean that the body converts the carbohydrates to sugar slower. This means that you feel full for longer and you body doesn’t try to store the energy as fat as much. As a general guide food that is higher in fiber has a lower GI. That is why veggies, fruits and whole grains are great for you.

The key to fat loss is, be organised, eat sensibly and be active. And if you have, get a network of support going. For example, hire a personal trainer or get a friend to workout with you. All the simple things can add up to bigger results.