Has that tire round your middle started to get you down? Are you depressed by the sight of it in the mirror in the morning? What to do? Where to begin?

What have you done wrong? What is it that’s made you this way? There are probably many reasons and it’s a good idea to think about what they are. If you do you’ll have a very good idea what to do.

When you decide that you want to be thinner, you have to be prepared to make a plan or course of action, work. This is not the time for half-hearted efforts. You either want it or you don’t. What sort of commitment are you prepared to make. Get this right at the onset will determine how successful you are going to be.

If you examine the causes of why you are overweight, you will soon realize that you are going to have to make some sacrifices. Gone will be the chocolate cookies and the burgers and all those sodas. You’re going to have to eat less as well. No more plates piled high with delicious food.

Do you know what the value of calories there is in what you eat every day? Do you know how much energy you use in a day – or how many calories you eat? You need to know this.

What you must not do is to suddenly stop eating and reduce your calorie intake dramatically. If you do the long-term consequences will be that you put on weight – not take it off.

What about exercise? Do you know how much you take? Do you take any at all? Exercise, if it is to be of any use to you at all, has to be ‘intentional’ exercise. Exercise that makes a difference and actually gets your blood flowing.

What you need to understand is that exercise burns calories – it’s also good for you. It keeps you alert and healthy. If you’re serious about losing weight you should start to think about making an exercise plan. Exercise needs to become a habit – a slim habit, if you like. If you are prepared to change you have a better chance of being successful at losing weight. Change will come from learning new habits.