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Flick through any glossy magazine and you can easily see that there is a real focus on weight loss, from a vanity or aesthetic point of view.
However, maintaining a healthy weight is actually more important for your health.
There are a huge number of health conditions which you are at risk of succumbing to if you do not manage to keep within a healthy weight range.
A healthy weight for you will depend on a number of factors including your age, height and the amount of muscle you have.
This means that there is not really one ideal healthy weight and you certainly should not be comparing your weight to anyone else’s.
You can assess your weight using a number of different tools including:
When looking into weight management, choosing a diet can be overwhelming because there are lots of conflicting opinions on what you should eat to lose weight.
Weight management starts with making little changes like doing more exercise and eating less or making healthier food choices.
Eating a healthy balanced diet is the best way to manage your weight and there are lots of diet foods which include in your diet.
Simple carbohydrates such as pasta and white bread are what we call ‘refined carbohydrates’, which have had most of the nutrients and fibre removed. These should therefore be eaten in limited amounts in contrast to wholegrains.
Luckily there are low calories alternatives to these sorts of carbs.
Choose from Now Slim’s Diet Pasta Fettuccine, Eat Water Slim Spaghetti or Eat Water Slim Pasta Penne.
All of these alternatives are made with konjac flour and so they are free from carbs as well as being gluten-free, fat-free, sugar-free and wheat-free.
It is not just your diet that will help you to maintain a healthy weight.
The amount of exercise you do will also determine your body shape and weight, as exercise increases the number of calories that your body uses for energy.
According to guidelines, you should aim to do 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (or even a mixture of the two!) each week.
Moderate activity includes walking briskly, playing with children and cycling at a casual pace.
Vigorous activity includes jogging, swimming and most competitive sports.
Research suggests that to maintain a healthy weight you should be eating at least three times each day.
Eating small meals or snacks more frequently will help to keep you fuller for longer and reduce feelings of huger.
Eating fewer than three meals each day can lead to hunger at mealtime, which can then make you overeat.
This also might lead you to making less healthy choices when it comes to food.
If you are looking to lose weight, you might want to consider substituting one or more of your meals for meal replacements.
Meal replacement shakes come in a variety of flavours including salted caramel, vanilla and strawberry so there will be one to suit your tastes.
Simply enjoy a shake after a workout or replace one or two of your meals with a shake.
Check the instructions on the individual product for the best way to enjoy your shake.
Fat burners, or binders, are dietary supplements which may help to burn excess fat.
Fat burners are not suitable for everyone, but they can be a good aid to weight management.
As well as these fat binders and burners, there are lots of nutritional supplements that you can take to support your weight management journey.
Green tea extract is a natural ingredient which helps to increase fat oxidation and reduce body fat.
All fat binders, burners and weight loss supplements are designed to be used as part of a healthy balanced diet.
Listen in on a conversation between any group of friends and it will not be long before one of them mentions their weight.
It has been a preoccupation of most adults for generations, and most of us have different reasons for thinking about it. Some feel a pressure to keep up with the unattainable look of celebrities, some want to fit back into their favourite jeans and some simply feel stuck in a rut.
The only real reason you should want to lose weight is for you. If it makes you feel better and healthier and is done in a safe and responsible way, then it can lift your confidence, support your health and leave you feeling on top of the world.
Weight management can seem like a tough road to travel, so setting goals and having a plan on how you are going to reach them is the most effective way to achieve what you aim for.
There are now some terrific products to help give you the kick start that you need and keep you on track throughout your journey.
It is important to remember that skipping meals is never a good way to lose weight. It might seem to get results initially, but you run the risk of making yourself ill.
If you are looking for a way to keep calories low during the day, then instead of avoiding your typical meals, try replacing them instead.
Meal replacement shakes such as the Holland & Barratt SlimExpert Meal Replacement Shake comes in strawberry, chocolate or vanilla flavour and offers a clinically proven way to aid weight loss.
Each shake contains just 205-210kcal and 16g of protein, to support muscle growth. This is combined with glucomannan, chromium and fructooligosaccharides to help you maintain blood sugar levels and prevent you from consuming too many calories throughout the day.
These shakes for weight loss come in all different forms, and there are even vegan formulations available such as this Protein World The Vegan Blend Vanilla Flavour.
This natural shake is high in protein but low in sugar thanks to its amazing blend of pea, quinoa and hemp protein.
Replacing meals does not have to be boring, and the Protein World Slender Baking Brownie Mix shows that you can still have fun treats without counting the calorie cost.
This healthy baking mix is a great source of protein and is low in sugar to make baking healthy brownies easy!
Completely overhauling your diet can be difficult and often seems like a daunting task.
For many, it can feel as though you live off nothing but lettuce leaves and yet the scales do not seem to shift.
This might mean that your metabolism needs a little helping hand and there are now a number of fat burners available that work with your body to aid the natural processes within it.
The Nutritional Headquarters Fat Metaboliser Tablets provide a combination of vitamins, minerals and botanical extracts which work alongside a 14 day diet plan.
They use green tea extract, which is naturally high in caffeine, to increase fat oxidation and push you further in your workouts.
Take one in the middle of the morning and another in the middle of the afternoon, to support your calorie-restricted diet and exercise regime.
Making a change to your lifestyle can be incredibly good for you but remember that it is important to speak to a doctor before making any drastic alterations, to make sure that you are doing it in a safe way. If you are losing weight, do it sensibly, do it safely, but most of all, do it for you.