1. Say NO to slow boring cardio - the best fat blasting workouts are the 'Huff and Puff' kinds. In other words, increase the intensity of your workouts and switch to interval training. And yes, even beginners can do interval training. Combine this with resistance training, you will turbocharge your metabolism long after a workout - and more importantly shape up fast.

2. Eat six small meals a day instead of three, and then snacking on healthy foods like a handful of raw nuts or fruits helps to keep our metabolism up so that we can burn more calories during the day.

3. If and when you hit a weight loss plateau, one thing you should try first is, give yourself a little break by working out less. Alternatively, look at varying your meals and up the intensity of your workouts to get you over the line.

4. Stop Mindless Eating like finishing your kids meals, munching on dead calorie foods at work, or sampling foods from the grocery store. These things do add up. So just stick to what you have planned for the day - remember you don't have polish off everything in one go.

**5. Clean out the pantry - one of the biggest pitfalls in a weight loss program is added sugar and mindless snacking (especially between getting home from work and dinner). Get rid of the junk, toss it into the bin and replace them with better options like raw nuts, a small tub of yogurt, fruits and other low fat snacks. Again, give yourself time to get into the new snacks. Once a week, give yourself a treat with your favorite snack or treat.

It's not difficult to lose weight - but it is up to you to take action. Word of advice - just make small changes daily and follow it consistently. Weight loss is not a race - it's about being in control and going long. By implementing a regular workout routine (including strength training) and healthy dieting, you will be well on your way to seeing results in no time. Not only will you look great, but you'll feel better as well.