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Losing weight

By Sarah Clark

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If dieting doesn't work, what does?

The first thing to do if you're concerned about your weight is to check whether you really are overweight – or whether you're worrying for no reason.

If you've identified that you're overweight or obese, you need to tackle the weight from a new perspective. You're overweight because you've been overeating, and it's the overeating that's causing you the problems, not the fat which is a result of it. Don't go straight out to buy the latest diet book, but instead try and look at the reasons you're overeating, what you're eating, and when.

Changing your eating patterns

It's often been said that some people, especially women, eat for comfort or emotional reasons. Are you an emotional eater? If so, try and find your emotional triggers, and deal with the situation or feeling that has made you think you want 'something nice to eat', even if you know that you're not really hungry.

It's not easy for most women to learn to eat whatever they really want, as the diet industry has been dictating for years that we must only eat low fat versions of all the good things in life. Perversely, low calorie and fat foods are often sold on the premise that you can eat more of them simply because they are lower in fat or calories – but the irony is lost on many dieters. Why not reach for an apple instead of a low fat biscuit? Or if you really fancy a biscuit, have something you really enjoy, which will satisfy your craving...you're more likely to stop at one that way!

Intuitive eating works on the premise that we should learn to listen to our bodies. You know that some days you might want a crisp crunchy salad for lunch, while another day you'll be really in the mood for a warming bowl of soup and a crusty roll. If you're following a strict diet regime, eating what you're told, you will never learn to trust the signals that your body sends, telling you when you're hungry and what you want to eat.

There are many courses and books available on 'intuitive eating' – invest in one of these for some ideas.

Get your body moving

Exercise is another vital component to healthy weight loss, and getting your body moving will make you feel better as your body is flooded with endorphins. Pick an activity you love, or could at least learn to like – walking in the park with an iPod on, a yoga or Pilates class, a fun dancing class...all these things are infinitely more fun than pounding a treadmill. Just 30 minutes of activity every day will accelerate your weight loss, and keep you fit and healthy.