There comes a time in most peoples life when you suddenly realise that you have put on weight and start thinking maybe now is the time to go on a diet.

The biggest problem for most people is really committing to a slimming plan once you have decided that is the route you need to go down. Starting weight loss is one of the hardest things to do.

There are so many things you can look at to aid weight loss. From pills and potions through to fitness and diet programs, the choices are virtually endless. However you have to choose one, or a combination of methods to help you start losing weight.

A Healthy Diet

healthy-diet

The first thing to look at is your diet. Are you eating too much? Are you eating the wrong things? Or are you prone to snacking between meals?

Sticking to a healthy diet is very tough and no one would begrudge you the odd treat. However, the problem arises when a treat no longer becomes a treat and instead starts to form a regular part of your diet.

Sticking to healthy foods is difficult we understand that as much as anyone. However, no one said that losing weight was going to be easy.

Knowing which foods are good for you and which are not relies on you be prepared to do your research and check the labels on the things you buy. As a general rule of thumb, try and stay away from pre-prepared foods and stick to buying fresh food you can cook yourself. Check out our healthy recipes section for ideas.

If you need a helping hand with maintaining a healthy diet then check out our recommended diet programs.

Keeping Active

keeping-activeThe second thing to think about is the amount of exercise you are getting. If you have a job that does not require physical effort (for example an office job) or even if you are retired you may find you do not get anywhere near enough exercise each day.

It is recommended that everyone does 30 minutes of brisk activity each day. This doesn’t mean you have to run until you are blue in the face, rather anything that leaves you slightly out of breath would be OK.

For example you could take a brisk 30 minute walk to the shops and back during your lunch break.

Look at your lifestyle and decide whether you are getting enough exercise. Going to the gym once a week is a great start, however, once a week probably isn’t enough if that’s the only exercise you are doing. Try and fit in another session each week for maximum benefit.

Another option to helping you keep fit is to get a dog. Now, we wouldn’t recommend a dog unless you really want one (for more than just the activity it will provide). However, if you are keen on getting a dog then go ahead if you can. This way you will be forced to get out and be active every day by your slobbering friend!

If you do not want a dog or perhaps cannot get one then how about finding a neighbour or a friend who has a dog and asking if you can take it for a walk a few times a week. Your friend will most likely be glad of the help and you get to incorporate a more active lifestyle to aid your weight loss.

Another option is to make use of one of the many slimming gadgets that are available, you can check out our best slimming gadget for some ideas.

Slimming Tablets

slimming-tabletsYou have probably seen a lot in the news recently about slimming tablets (or diet pills as they are also known). As with anything, there are good points and bad points about using slimming tablets.

On the downside you have to start remembering to take the pills all the time, they also are a kind of way to cheat the system which can mean its harder to maintain your new weight once you stop taking them. There are also some pills that have unpleasant side-effects.

On the upside though, some tablets are incredibly effective at aiding weight loss and can help you reach your target weight faster and more easily than dieting alone. There are also effective, natural slimming tablets on the market that do not have any known side effects.

If you choose to try slimming tablets then you have to make sure you choose the right ones for you. Otherwise you will either find they do not work or they will leave you with unwanted side effects.

We have tried a few diet pills in our ‘fat fighters’ club, you can find out what these are in our slimming tablet reviews section.

Ok so they are the 3 main considerations to make when starting weight loss. Are you eating correctly? Are you active enough? And, would slimming tablets help you?

Now, before you proceed on your weight loss journey it is important to face the truth and find out just how overweight you are. This might not be something you particularly want to know but it’s essential that you understand exactly how much weight you need to lose to stay healthy.

Our BMI Calculator will help you calculate how overweight you are.