How to find the right diet for you and feel more positive about shaping up for 2016

There's always pressure at the beginning of the year to slim down after Christmas but it needn't be a punishing regime with our top tips

OK, so the Christmas cheer has been put away for another year and our groaning waistbands are telling us it’s time to take action. But it needn’t be a punishing and depressing start to the diet season.

Here’s how to shape up and enjoy 2016...

The health benefits

Everyone knows we look, and feel, better when we’re slimmer. But there are so many more benefits to losing weight than just looking good in jeans...

How about…living longer?

Leading a healthy lifestyle can add years to your life. Being overweight is associated with a whole heap of nasties, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and some cancers, all of which can reduce our life expectancy considerably.

But the good news is that making changes to the way you live today will start to have an immediate impact on your tomorrows.

Having more energy?

Weight loss will boost your energy levels, so you’ll feel full of the joys of spring. It’s difficult to live life to the full when you feel tired a lot of the time. Shedding even a few pounds can have an immediate impact on how alert you are.

Then you can put all of that additional ‘oomph’ into making even further investments in yourself. Channel it into taking up a new form of exercise, whether it’s high-octane Zumba, swimming, or just taking the dog for a longer walk – uphill!

And a better night’s sleep

Many overweight people who struggle getting a good night’s sleep suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This is a condition where the muscles in your throat relax and collapse enough to briefly block the airways.

That lack of oxygen makes the brain lift you from deep sleep to awake, or to a much lighter sleep so the airways can open again.

Often accompanied by snoring, this can happen many times – disturbing your night. Losing weight can reduce or eradicate the condition, meaning an uninterrupted sleep pattern and fresher mornings for you – and your other half.

So let's get started...

Choose wisely

If you’re one of the vast majority of people who’s tried dieting many times, only to find it such a struggle that you fall off the bandwagon and feel a failure, or gradually put the weight back on – then now is the time to look at the type of diet you need.

? Not all regimes suit everyone. We’re all different – different bodies, different lifestyles, different food preferences. So it makes sense that you need a diet that works with you. You’ll be more likely to suceed with a diet that fits in with the way you live your life and the foods you enjoy eating.

? These days, a better understanding of the science of dieting means there are lots of diets on offer. Some take into account a busy lifestyle, having children to cater for, or a passion for meat or dairy. Others work for those who feel comfortable cutting certain foods out completely, or those who want to have an occasional glass of wine.

Maybe fasting on some days in order to eat more freely the rest of the week suits your mindset – or you’re happy simply counting calories and upping your vegetable intake. Before you start, take the time to look for the best type of diet for you.

? Switch, don’t ditch. Rather than trying a diet plan with a very restrictive set of rules, then struggling to stick with it long-term, try using one diet to drop a lot of weight first and boost your confidence, then switch to a more manageable healthy eating programme to keep the weight off.

You can always revisit the plan that shows the most dramatic change for you if you notice the weight creeping back on.

5 easy steps to losing weight

We want this to be the most successful weight loss year you have ever had. So here are some tips from psychologist, therapist and transformation coach Gladeana McMahon to get you motivated and inspired to get started. Because effective weight loss is as much about how you’re thinking as what you’re eating…

1. Make a plan

Create a doable plan that supports the way you live. Don’t give yourself too many restrictions that could negatively affect your lifestyle. For example, if you have a demanding schedule and are on the go every day, make sure you have healthy snacks in your bag so you don’t get hungry or cranky and can make healthy choices.

2. Then make it flexible

Whichever diet you choose, after a few weeks, re-evaluate it. If you’re trying something new, give yourself a deadline when you’ll check in and see if it’s actually right for you. Diets may work for you on paper, but not in real life, so you may decide instead of doing just one diet, you will rotate two or three.

3. Get some support

Make sure you create the ideal conditions for success. If you’re on a low cal diet, don’t have sweets/cakes/crisps/ice cream in the house. Also, a buddy who is doing a plan with you will support your choices and make the whole thing more fun – so enlist a friend to lose weight with you.

4. Set reasonable goals

If you have a lot to lose – say five stone – break your weight loss journey down into manageable goals, like half stone chunks. Then positively reinforce that decision by rewarding yourself each time you meet a goal – treat yourself to a new lippie, or get your nails done.

5. Be kind to yourself

Success comes from internal validation, so be kind to yourself and value yourself. If you feel good about you and your new positive choices you are more likely to succeed. As you build new habits say, well done to yourself. Remember a healthy you is a happier you.