Male Detail

Here's a weight loss tip I picked up from the Get Organized Now newsletter this week. (well it wasn't presented as a weight loss tip there but it can be!)

Instead of flicking through the channels or getting a beverage or snack while the commercial breaks interrupt your TV viewing get up and work on your home.

You can easily run the hoover over the carpet in one room, tidy up a space, unload the dishwasher or dust a few surfaces in the time it takes for a commercial break.

Not only will you avoid eating you'll also use a few calories and end up with a calmer less stressful environment ... and we all know how stress can lead to chocolate....

With commercial breaks getting longer and longer you're bound to get a lot done in an evenings viewing - and every few calories helps.

If you want to lose weight you have to be quite strong-willed when you are out and about with a crowd of friends or surrounded by family members.

Just because they are all eating dessert does not mean you have to stuff yourself with chocolate pie (especially if you have already eaten more than enough!)

Just because they are all drinking wine and beer does not mean that you have to fill yourself up with empty calories.

Just because they are not sporty does not mean you can't take up a sport and enjoy it.

Be proud of beng a little bit different, of having the courage of your convictions and show them that you have the strength of character to follow through on your decision to lose weight.

If you demonstrate by your actions that you mean business when you say you are trying to lose weight your friends and family will (eventually) be more supportive and (with a bit of luck) stop trying to force feed you calorie laden goodies.

It's when you continually say things like "oh I know I shouldn't but go on then, just a small piece" that they fail to take you seriously - after all you've shown that you are far from serious about your decision yourself.

What have you done recently to stand out from the crowd - and done what you know is good for you?

I am often asked "What are the right foods and the right exercise to lose weight?"

And although there is no such thing as a universal one-size-fits-all diet and exercise program, there probably is a perfect plan for you.

That would be a diet with exactly the right quantities of foods you love and a workout plan which keeps you fit and energized while toning your muscles and maintaining your flexibility.

The thing is, if you had such a plan, would you stick with it?

If you have ever followed a diet and exercise program before why did you stray (and I KNOW you did - don't we all?

The problem is that life gets in the way. There are birthday parties and nights out with the girls (or guys). There are vacations and business trips. There are highly stressful weeks where you want to eat enough for a small country and go off exercising altogether (even though it would do you more good than ever to do it).

It's really best not to be too rigid in the plan you follow because then you are left without anything if you can't follow your plan for some reason.

I prefer to use a set of guiding principles which work whatever circumstances you find yourself in and not to have you worrying that you haven't managed to get to the store to buy whatever is on today's menu and thinking you may as well give up for the day/week.

What are the guiding principles I use for losing and maintaining weight?

Things like eating only when your hunger reaches a certain stage (but not waiting too long), eating food you love which also nourishes you too, keeping active without killing yourself at the gym (unless you love the gym), working on your motivation as well as your meals...

In fact there are quite a few which you need to gradually build into your life if you want to lose weight and stay slim forever without ever having to diet again.

If you want to know more take a look at my weight loss handbook which focuses on 24 essential principles or choose a weight loss program from the many around which advise changes to your lifestyle you can live with rather than meal plans  and 3 hour exercise sessions you almost certainly can't.

I have been writing for years warning about diet scams such as Lipo-Slim and GI Capsules.

But there's no doubt about it these products still sell - the ads are still getting posted into mail boxes worldwide and hard-earned cash is still being spent on trying to lose weight the easy way. (Though the easy way in the ads turns out not to be effective)

If you don't believe me and take heed of what I say then please read these reports from the UK Government body - the Office of fair Trading and don't part with your cash.

The Office of Fair Trading can stop diet scams only within in the U.K. but believe me it is the same scam wherever you live.

Lipo-Slim Scam

GI Capsule scam

I had BBC breakfast news on this morning while I was doing my usual putting lunch together for everyone to take to work and school and happened to catch a piece about Meat Loaf's new tour in Europe.

Apparently Meat Loaf has managed to lose 27lbs since the start of the year - no mean feat especially as he has been big since he was a young kid.

And one of the presenters quipped that he might now need to be called Meat Slice...

Great reminder for portion control too - don't eat the loaf or the cake - have just one slice....