10 Ways to keep motivated on your diet

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(e.g. cabbage soup/maple syrup)

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Read my personal review of this dieting book which will really change your life.

I have lost weight with this great book Paul McKenna's book I can make you slim.
New revised edition!

I haven't been hungry since I started this diet and there is no weighing, measuring or special foods to eat.

Very easy to follow - you can eat ALL your favourite foods!

I personally recommend you buy this book.
It has changed the way I look at food and dieting! You will find it easier than ever before to diet - and it won't seem like dieting as you're allowed all the foods you like!

1. Look back at old photos of yourself and how you used to look
2. Try some old clothes on - you know those smaller size ones you've not worn for months, seeing how much nearer you are wearing them (or them even being too big!)
3. Re-read your journal if you've been keeping a diary to see how you much better you feel
4. Keep good foods handy and get rid of the bad foods you can't resist. This'll help you not feel tempted to cheat.
5. Believe in yourself. Know that you can do this and you will get there in the end.
6. Talk to a friend who understand you - someone who'll be supportive.
7. Go swimming or out for a long walk. Get the blood pumping round your body.
8. Plan ahead - work out what you're going to cook for the whole family in advance. It'll give you something to stick to!
9. Be ruthless with leftovers and snacks. Either feed them the birds or put them in the bin.
10. Drink a glass of water. We never drink enough - and would all benefit from drinking more so have a glass of water and feel pleased that you're doing something to help your diet

How to stop cravings

Drink a glass of icey cold water. Put a slice of lemon in, or ice cubes. Make it special.

Use sugar free gum (Check your diet rules to see if you're allowed) as a substitute.

Think about why you want to eat. Will eating make you happier? Will you feel better? Why? Work out what's making you anxious or upset and deal with it!

Find alternatives for bad cravings. If you know you'll eat tons of chocolate if you start then don't keep chocolate in the house.
I love dried dates as a quick snack. They're just like toffee berries! They help me deal with craving sweet things, and although they still have calories I know they're better for me than a bar of chocolate. Work out what you can use to replace urges.

Don't buy the you can't resist. A real killer for my dieting is a certain brand of crackers - I can just wolf them down, so I avoid buying them. That way I know I'm not going to binge on them.

Buy snacksize if you must - that way you've got more wrappers to get through - and it'll give you a sensible portion size. They do loads of sweets and chocolates in snack sizes as well as savoury party food if you look through the freezer section at the supermarker.

Cook portions of food - and make them smaller than normal portions for yourself. It'll stop you overeating if the portion size is small and you can fill up on veg!

If you have to keep chocolate in the house and can't resist then stick it in the freezer and it'll be impossible to eat!

Find distractions when you get cravings. Have a shower. It is nearly impossible to eat food in the shower. Or go out and garden for ten minutes, or use the exercise machine, or run the hoover round, or do the dishes, or run up the stairs at work, or do something in the furthest corner from temptation - file or talk to colleagues.

Eat regularly with sensible foods so you're never starving hungry and faced with a quick fix of food which is more likely to be unhealthy or a binge. Don't get to the really desperately hungry stage else it'll make you weak.

Make low fat/calorie/carb versions according to your diet rules of your favourite foods. If you can't eat the foods you like on a diet you are much more likely to fail.
Its not about deprivation its about learning to eat sensibly and healthily.

Work out your own motivational techniques to keep yourself on your diet

Do you like to dance round the kitchen cleanning up? Do you pin photos of your old self on the fridge? Do you lock the biscuit barrel?

Ask family members to help you with your diet - suggestions for them might include not leaving snacks lying about.

If someone else cooks make sure they understand what changes have happened in your diet.

What motivates you to stick to your diet? Email us and we'll publish your suggestions.

Does a pep talk from a friend help? Does your mum encourage you to keep on track?

Some people like to go through their wardrobe and clear out old clothes which are now too big for you.

If you have graph paper and pens you can draw a chart of how much weight you've lost! It'll show you how long til you're at target weight!

Make a list of ten things you'd like to do when you're at your target weight. Use this list as a reward ideas for when you rech targets.