2. Don’t skip carbs
Protein is good, but that’s no reason to avoid carbs, that will just make you sad. And hungry. The trick is to eat the right kind of carbs, ones that contain resistant starch, which help you lose weight, according to research. Load up on brown rice and pasta, beans, lentils and sweetcorn, ripe bananas and sweet potatoes.
3. Change your plate ratios
Weighing and measuring out food before you eat it is fiddly, not to mention a pain. Instead, use this simple rule when loading your plate: fill half of it with vegetables, one quarter with protein and one quarter with carbs. For most of us, increasing veggie portions at each meal automatically reduce sizes of other more calorific foods and you’ll pants will soon start to feel looser.
4. See your GP
It is good to check in with your doctor before you start your weight loss journey to get assessed and get the right advice. You can also discuss any concerns you have about any medications you’re taking that may influence your diet or weight loss efforts and if any of your health conditions could be related to your weight.
5. Get more active in and out of the gym
Even if you are using your gym membership (good for you!), too much sedentary time is associated with weight gain, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Get a cheap pedometer to motivate you to clock up 10,000 steps a day and park far away from the shops or train station, so you can squeeze in an extra 10-minute walks during the week. It all counts.
