Weight loss diet

It's what everyone wants - a weight loss diet that actually works. But if you don't want to join a club or pay for the latest celebrity fad book, how do you come up with a weight loss diet of your own that you can really stick with? Believe it or not, figuring out a weight loss diet isn't too hard - but first you have to understand a bit about what you eat, and why you eat it.

The first step is simple - start writing down everything you eat. And I mean everything!

Not just the cup of tea and biscuit you had for breakfast, but also the half a slice of toast and jam your kid left behind - and the birthday cake at the office, and the quick drink on the home from work.

Once you've started to become aware of what you're eating, you have to ask yourself a simple question - why? Why did you eat this? Because you were hungry, stressed, tired, bored, because everyone else is eating, out of habit?

The only reason to eat should be hunger - if there's another reason involved, then satisfy that without eating. If you're bored, read a book. Stressed? Deal with the stress.

Next, look at changes you can make to your eating. You already know what you should do, don't you?

• Drink lots of water
• Cut out the junk food, fizzy drinks, alcohol, snacks and sweets
• Eat fresh fruit and vegetables
• Eat whole grains
• Eat low fat meat and fish (not fried for example)

You can still have a few of the things you like, but make the treats small, and occasional - a glass of wine a couple of times a week, not a whole bottle every night, or a small bowl of good ice cream - not an entire carton. And finally, get moving. Making exercise a part of your daily life will help you feel better, look better, and help to shift the pounds.