We all know we need to have a well balanced diet. But this doesn't mean your diet has to be boring, just well planned. Sit down with your low fat recipe books and plan your week's meals before you go grocery shopping. Do not shop while you're hungry as you'll buy more. Only buy what's on the list. See how good it feels to have your shopping trolley full of mostly fruit and vegetables!



Change your attitude to eating by using smaller plates. You can still eat adequate proportions of the right food, but you will feel like you're eating more. Don't laugh, try this: it really works! Another little trick is to eat your nightly meal several hours before going to bed, then brush your teeth immediately. This seems to deter those late night cravings!

It's easy to remember this formula of your daily food requirements: 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit. I find that starting the day with some fruit on my cereal takes care of one of the fruit serves and then I only have to munch on an apple some time during the day to fulfil that requirement. Eating a carrot for morning tea works for me because it takes a long time to chew (and therefore feels like I'm eating more!) plus it takes care of my first vegetable serve.

Don't rush your consumption of food: just take your time as you digest each mouthful, enjoying the texture and flavour and thinking about it more as you eat. The best drink to accompany food is water. Drink lots of it as it fills you up so that you're inclined to eat less, and it has loads of other benefits as well. Try peeling and chopping up a bunch of fruit and leaving it at the front of your fridge in a container. You will probably be more inclined to snack on bite-sized pieces of fruit if it's already prepared for you.

Most of our social events with friends and family are based around the activity of eating, and usually, eating too much. You can change all that and usher in a new healthier habit for everyone by suggesting different kinds of meetings. For example, arrange a walk together instead of a meal together, arrange a fun game in the local park instead of an binge in a smorgasboard restaurant, organise a card game instead of a cafeteria. The company is the important thing, afterall. And you'll all feel the benefit.

A danger for people wishing to lose weight is outings. Food is fatty and expensive at sporting and other entertainment events. Far better to pack healthy food and model healthy eating to the kids. Remember, losing weight is about lifestyle change, not a one-off diet.

As a safeguard, I make sure my family takes a health supplement every day. It gives me peace of mind to know that we are all getting the required vitamins and minerals even on days when our high dietary standards have been compromised. And realistically, we all have days which are less than ideal when it comes to food intake. After walking or doing weights I always have a whey protein shake, which helps repair and tone muscles. It also serves as a powerful appetite suppressant during the day. If you're exercising, as you should be, you will benefit from a protein based drink straight afterwards. Try it and see the difference.

Losing weight is not as arduous as we sometimes think it is. If you can make some adjustments to your lifestyle, you'll never have to worry about fad diets or starving yourself again! Surely that's a motivation in itself!