For many people, the idea of losing weight is imagining themselves chewing on carrot and celery sticks for the rest of their life, and this can be extremely off putting.

However, losing weight is about reducing the amount of calories you consume each day and upping your exercise levels to match them, which means that chocolate bar you love so much doesn’t necessarily have to be cut out of your life. Want to lose weight without giving up the food and drink you love? Take a look at these tips.

Get out of the “meal time” mindset

One of the biggest mistakes we make as a society is eating because society dictates it’s time to eat. The truth is, you’re probably not actually hungry at lunch or dinner time, and eat because you’re programmed to think so. Learn how to listen to your body and know when you’re actually hungry. A great way of determining this is by drinking a glass of water when you think you’re hungry and waiting ten minutes. More often than not, your body has mistaken thirst for hunger. Getting into this habit will help avoid overeating and keep your body well hydrated.

Seek professional help

If you’ve led a sedentary lifestyle lately, then you may be nervous about joining a gym or beginning exercise if you’re not sure which exercises will benefit you the most. Seeking a professional personal trainer will help you kick start your exercise regime and your weight loss. Professional trainers will have completed a Level 3 PT training course, meaning they will know everything there is to know about combatting your problematic areas and exercises that will burn the most calories.

Drink more water

Water is an incredible aid for weight loss and for your general health. It helps flush out toxins from your body, make weight loss easier, and it will help in other areas such as your skin, sleeping patterns, and your attention levels. Try and aim for the recommended 2 litres of water a day and before long you’ll start seeing results!

Calorie counting

Once you know how many calories you should consume in a day to lose weight compared to your activity levels, you can begin creating delicious and nutritious meal plans that still include all of your favourite foods. If you still want to enjoy a beer at the end of the day, factor that in too! As long as you stay within or up to your calorie recommendation, you’ll still lose weight. Here are some other tips to help with weight loss:

• Keep a food diary so you don’t accidentally go over your calorie limit
• Eat little and often to allow your digestive system to work correctly. Remember to only eat when you’re truly hungry
• Eat slowly to allow your body to tell your brain when you’re full
• Serve meals on smaller plates, your brain will think you’ve had more than you have
• Find healthier alternatives of your favourite foods

As you can see, losing weight doesn’t necessarily mean giving up all of the food and drink you love. Follow these tips, and you’ll begin to notice results sooner rather than later!