Category Archives: Lose Weight Fast

Starting your day off with a healthy meal can be a key component in achieving sustainable weight loss. Specifically, incorporating high protein foods into your favorite breakfast recipes is an easy routine shift that could yield considerable weight loss results.

To make it easier for you to find flat-belly breakfast recipes, we collected four of our favorite morning meals that can help you lose weight fast.

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If you have a sweet tooth, this is an excellent healthy breakfast option for you. This gluten-free breakfast is high in protein and a healthy way to start your day, especially if you love the combination of chocolate and bananas

What You'll Need: chocolate whey protein, pancake flour, chia seeds, baking powder, eggs, banana, almond milk

Recipe: Dr. Axe

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If you need a quick breakfast before starting your day, this is a fantastic recipe that is healthy and easily customizable. Although oatmeal is delicious on its own, the egg adds necessary protein for a well-balanced breakfast. Choose either sweet or savory toppings depending on what you are craving.

What You'll Need: almond milk, old fashioned oats, egg, salt

Recipe: Nutrition Starring You

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If you're looking for a more savory breakfast option, this is another delicious recipe that will keep you full and prevent you from snacking before lunch. Summer Yule, RDN, explains, "This dish is low-calorie but high in protein and veggies, with enough fat to leave you feeling satisfied."

What You'll Need: eggs, cheese, olive oil, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, baby kale

Recipe: Summer Yule

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If you want to meal prep a healthy breakfast, this is a fantastic option that can incorporate protein and fruit into your diet. Combining protein, almonds, and cherries, this is a great recipe and easy way to add more nutrients into your diet first thing in the morning.

What You'll Need: rolled oats, vanilla protein powder, baking powder, cinnamon, bananas, vanilla extract, egg whites, almond milk, cherries, almonds

Recipe: Radical Strength

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4 Flat-Belly Breakfast Recipes You Should Try This Week For Weight Loss - SheFinds

Carrots are loaded with multiple health benefits. Do you know carrots can help in weight loss as well? If you are trying to lose weight this winter, carrot can be a part of your weight loss diet. Here's how

Weight loss: Carrot can keep you full for longer and promote weight loss

Carrot- a root vegetable that is quite famous during the winter season. It is mainly available during the winter season which can provide you multiple health benefits. During the winter season, carrot halwa is one of the favourite delicacies. But do you know carrots can help in weight loss as well? Carrots are rich in various nutrients. If you are trying to lose weight this winter, carrot can be a part of your weight loss diet. Not just weight loss carrots can also provide you other health benefits as well. During the winter season, you can cook carrots in different ways and speed up your weight loss process. Here's how carrots can help you lose weight.

Carrots have many properties that can help in weight loss. It can be a powerful ingredient of your weight loss diet. Carrots contain very few calories which makes it an appropriate food for weight loss. It is also loaded with fibre which can keep you full for longer and make you eat less. Carrots are also loaded with vitamin A which also helps you lose weight.

Also read:Too Lazy To Workout During Winter? Do Not Compromise On Your Fitness Goals With These Weight Loss Tips

Weight loss: Eating carrots is loaded with health benefits including weight lossPhoto Credit: iStock

You can simply add a bowel of fresh carrot to your diet. You can also eat boiled carrots. You can also add to your salad or different foods you prepare. Carrot can be a part of soups as well which can help in weight loss. This crunchy vegetable will provide you many other health benefits as well.

Also read:Achieve Your Weight Loss Goals This Winter By Adding These Seasonal Fruits To Your Diet

Adding carrots to your diet is associated with many other health benefits other than weight loss. As it is loaded with essential nutrients and vitamins, it can benefit your health in various ways. Some health benefits of eating carrots may include-

Also read:Orange: An Amazing Winter Fruit For Diabetes, Weight Loss, Skin And Much More; Know All Health Benefits

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Speed Up Your Weight Loss Process With Carrots This Winter; Know Other Health Benefits - Doctor NDTV

New Years resolutions run the gamut from the simple to the complex. Some people resolve to make small changes that dont affect their daily lives all that much, while others aim to make significant changes in the hopes of dramatically improving their quality of life. Resolving to lose weight, which often tops annual lists of the most popular resolutions, falls into the latter category.

A 2018 survey from Cision and Varo Money found that 45 percent of respondents resolved to lose weight or get in shape in 2018. Unfortunately, various studies have found that resolutions often fall by the wayside long before people achieve their goals. In fact, a 2015 report from U.S. News indicated that 80 percent of resolutions fail by the second week of February. Such success rates, or lack thereof, might not be too big a deal for people who make silly resolutions that, successful or not, would not have too big an impact on their lives. But many people resolve to lose weight for serious reasons, such as lowering their risk for disease or improving their quality of life. In such instances, success can be a matter of life or death.

After resolving to lose weight, people might be derailed by some common pitfalls. Recognizing these pitfalls and learning how to avoid them can help people achieve their weight loss goals.

Youre not specific enough. Try not to be vague when setting your weight loss goals. Simply saying I want to lose weight likely wont provide the motivation you need to achieve your goal. Speak with your physician and ask about how much weight you need to lose. Once you learn that number, work with your doctor and a personal trainer to set realistic goals. For example, if you need to lose 10 lbs., resolving to lose one pound per week for 10 weeks is a specific, realistic and healthy approach to weight loss. And by the end of that 10-week period, you likely will have grown accustomed to your new health routine, increasing the likelihood that you will keep it up even after you achieved your goal.

You try to save up your calories. The experts at Northwestern Medicine note that many people think skipping a few meals per day will decrease their overall calorie intake. However, such an approach typically leads to overeating when you sit down for a meal or increased snacking throughout the day. In addition, skipping meals slows down your metabolism, adversely affecting how your body approaches burning calories.

You embrace a fad diet. Various studies examining an assortment of fad diets have indicated that such diets typically only produce short-term results, if any. Any weight lost while adhering to a fad diet is typically regained once dieters go off the diet. Instead of adopting a fad diet, work with your physician to devise a healthy, long-term eating plan.

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You eat more than you think. Audra Wilson, RD, a clinical dietitian affiliated with Northwestern Medicine, notes that people typically underestimate their calorie intake by 30 percent. Chances are, youre consuming more calories than you think, even while you attempt to lose weight. Track the calories you consume each day so you can stay the course in regard to what your physician recommends.

Avoiding some common weight loss pitfalls can help people turn their resolution to drop some weight into a reality.

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Pitfalls to avoid as you try to lose weight - Williston Daily Herald

"Love Island" starAlexandra Cane looked incredible as she stepped out in London showing off her weight loss.

Thereality star, 28, showed off her slimmer figure in a tight red sequined jumpsuit.

She looked in good spirits as she left Ciros pizza restaurant in Knightsbridge.

LOVE ISLAND HOST CAROLINE FLACK CHARGED WITH ASSAULT BY BEATING: REPORTS

Since leaving "Love Island" last year, Cane has been working hard on her body and has shed the pounds through "diet and exercise".

At the start of November, the reality star hit back at fans who claimed she Photoshopped an image posted to her Instagram account.

After posting a picture which some followers claimed she had altered she insisted her appearance is down to her healthy lifestyle, she fumed: "eating well and exercising is unrealistic????? There are zero filters and zero photoshop. Damned if I do, damned if I dont." [sic]

'LOVE ISLAND' US EDITION REVEALS ITS 11 LOVE-SEEKING SINGLES

Meanwhile, Alexandra recently revealed how she thoughtWinter Love Island will "kill the show off".

The TV star, who starred in the 2018 version of the series, said: "As a contestant that's been on the show, it just makes the industry so much more saturated.

"It just means that more TV companies are having to bring out more shows to place these people on.

REALITY TV STAR LUCIE DONLAN SHOWS OFF INCREDIBLE WEIGHT LOSS

"There's so many characters and it's like how many people can you fit into the reality TV world before it like I have a feeling it's gonna kill it off."

Cane revealed she was scouted for "Love Island" and turned the show down multiple times before accepting a spot in 2018.

She said: "I turned down 'Love Island' a couple of times before I went on the show, the same year and they finally got me ten days before I went on the show, so it all happened very organically for me.

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"I didn't have time to get in the gym and train and look super buff, so I was just in there as me and I think that was the best thing about it."

Since leaving the villa a single woman, Cane has been linked to Rykard Jenkins and boohooMAN CEO Samir Kamani.

Her time on the ITV2 dating series came to a bitter end after Alex George dumped her days before the final leaving her humiliated.

This article originally appeared in The Sun.

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'Love Island' star Alexandra Cane reveals weight loss in form-fitting red jumpsuit - Fox News

In the midst of her divorce from Jim Edmonds, former Real Housewives of Orange County star Meghan King Edmonds is focusing on life with her three children, Aspen, Hart, and Hayes. The reality star posted a photo of herself and her kids, but it was her suspected weight loss that fans really focused in on.

In the photo, Meghan can be seen wearing a flowy top and black leggings as she plays with her children on a playground. "Pushing each other along every day," she captioned the photo, adding a heart emoji to boot.

According to InTouch Weekly, one fan commented on the post to share their concern for Meghan and her apparent weight loss.

You look very skinny. I know you have a lot on your plate. And I can only imagine how hard it is to juggle it all. Take care of yourself momma, you cant pour from an empty cup. Sending you love," they wrote. Naturally, other fans didnt exactly appreciate the users comment. However, Meghan actually agreed.

Im too thin. Im a stress non-eater. Im working on it, she wrote in response.

Meghan's honest response to the fan's concern shows that the former Real Housewife is not afraid to be vulnerable with her many followers. In fact, on the Dec. 16 episode of Brooks Laich and Gavin DeGraw's podcast How Men Think, Meghan opened up about why she's taken this vulnerable approach.

Being vulnerable at a time when you need to be the strongest, that balance is really tough and so to find that balance and also to not deny yourself your feelings or your emotions and allow yourself to feel them but also being strong, what does that mean? Thats something we need to explore and feel, she said, while discussing what topics she'll address on her own podcast, Intimate Knowledge, with Brooke Burke.

Meghans recent comments come a couple of months after her husband filed for divorce from her in October after five years of marriage. Their separation came amid claims that Jim had cheated on his wife with their nanny, Carly Wilson. Both Wilson and Jim have denied those allegations.

It was previously reported that Jim had engaged in an inappropriate texting relationship with a woman. The former professional athlete admitted to Us Weekly that he had sent sexts to the woman and that he had a lapse in judgment but denied that the relationship was physical.

As of right now, it appears as though Meghan and Jim are simply dedicated to co-parenting their three children together. According to InTouch Weekly, in late November, the couple reached a 50/50 custody agreement regarding their kids.

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WAIT THERE! Hit play and listen to GroupChat's new Episode 16! Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi has officially retired from Jersey Shore after a dramatic season of filming. The Masked Singer has all us debating the identities of Flamingo, Rottweiler, and Fox and Vanna White has us debating if we should buy a vowel for the first time on Wheel of Fortune. All that, plus Kourtney Kardashians plea to be excluded from the KUWTK! Make sure to listen and subscribe!

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'RHOC' Star Meghan King Edmonds Reveals Shocking Weight Loss Amid Divorce From Husband Jim - PopCulture.com

In case you were looking for a little inspiration to get your health goals on track in 2020, look no further than Tamela Mann. The gospel singer and actress has lost close to 50 pounds since teaming up with Weight Watchers.

During a recent episode of ESSENCEs Yes, Girl! podcast, The Manns dropped tons of gems on life, love and their new business ventures. Tamela says after joining WWs roster of ambassadors, her health transformed for the better. I didnt think it was going to go as well, but I made my mind up to be healthier, and to be able to have accountability with WW and my coach, she says. This new app that they have makes it so much easier to follow. Im just really enjoying my journey.

Though she and husband David Mann practically do everything as a team, she says this journey was one she needed to embark on alone. Hes loved me at my heaviest, which was [around] 365, says Tamela. I just really thank God for the encouragement that hes given me, and the encouraging words, youre doing it. I told him and our family they dont really need to join, because this is something that I want to do with WW. This is a goal that I want to reach. And I told him, its not that I dont want you to be involved, but I really just want to stand on my own and say, I did this thing.'

David supported his wife along the way, helping her research the point value on various foods. Seeing how far shes come makes him super proud. This is the first time Ive seen her this tunnel vision dedicated and focused on it, he says.

The Manns have been married for 31 incredible years. They first met in the mid-80s when Tamelas best friend invited her to watch David and his former music group perform. After tying the knot, the couple welcomed two children together, David Jr. and Tia, and they also raised his two daughters from a previous relationship, Porcia and Tiffany, as well asTamelas niece, Sonya.

Listen to David and Tamelas Yes, Girl interview below.

See more here:
Tamela Mann Talks Getting Fit With Her Husband David's Support - Essence

There are two types of people in the world: those who do CrossFit, and those who hear about the commitment, dedication, and effort involved with this intense fitness mindset and say, Yeah...no thanks.

If you fall into the former camp, then youve probably already heard the vertical diet being talked about around your local box. But non-CrossFitters may still be in the dark about this inverted diet trendwhose nutrient profile is often described as an upside-down letter Tand wondering if it could help them lose weight.

The vertical diet was created to help bodybuilders easily put on mass to meet weight-gain goals without digestive issues."

The vertical diet was created to help bodybuilders easily put on mass to meet weight-gain goals without digestive issues, says Amy Shapiro, RD, founder of Real Nutrition. The foods allowed are easy to digest and dense, yet they are clean and minimally processed.

But before you jump on yet another diet bandwagon with a catchy name, theres some stuff you should know about it. Its not for everyone, first of alland it doesnt meet all your nutritional goals as is. Heres the whole scoop.

Okay, back to the upside-down T. The vertical diet gets its name because it emphasizes receiving the majority of your calories from a restricted number of nutrient-dense foods instead of eating more evenly, or horizontally, across several different food groups.

The bottom of the upside-down T is your foundationmeant to be filled with small quantities of foods providing necessary micronutrientswhile the vertical line represents the bulk of your calories for the day (mainly red meat and white rice, but Ill get to that later).

The diet was designed by a bodybuilder, Stan Efferding, and because of its focus on protein and carbs, its meant to help people build muscle mass and improve energy, stamina, and endurance. According to Efferding, reducing your food intake to a limited number of easily digestible foods allows you to enhance your metabolism and improve your gut health.

When youre following the vertical diet, youre supposed to build a solid foundation of micronutrients by eating things like milk, eggs, fish, vitamin C-rich fruits, and some vegetables, like potatoes, spinach, and carrots, says Shapiro. These foods are not, however, meant to contribute to your overall calorie intake. Instead, you eat them in small amounts for their vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

The bulk of your calories comes from red meat and white rice. Why? Well, red meat is a nutrient-dense protein source that's rich in iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 (more so than other proteins, like chicken. Meanwhile, white rice is easily digestible, so its a good carb source for athletes. The vertical diet also encourages you to keep increasing your carb intake, i.e. moving up the vertical line over time.

As for what's off the vertical diet menu: chicken, fish, brown rice, wheat-based and whole-grain foods, beans and legumes, and high-raffinose (a.k.a. gassy) foods, like broccoli and cauliflower. You can't have added or artificial sugars. There are no onions or garlic allowed, either. Basically, any food thats not super digestible should be avoided.

The only reason people who arent extreme athletes or powerlifters might consider doing a diet like this is if it promises weight loss, right? (Otherwise, just...why?)

But here's the thing: Though the vertical diet could result in weight loss for some (such as those who eat a lot of processed foods or sugars), its not really designed for that. Remember, the diet is supposed to help people gain muscle mass, so to lose weightas in, faton the diet, you have to do some strategic tweaking.

You could lose weight on this diet if you watch portions and eliminate excessive amounts of white rice and simple carbs, says Shapiro.

Because the program limits many plant-based foods needed for weight loss, she adds, you would also want to increase the amount of vegetables and reduce the quantity of fatty cuts of meat and cheese you consume. (Hello, keto's antithesis!)

Great Q! The vertical diet claims that it will improve your gut health, and that may be true: The diet is based around foods that are mostly low in FODMAPs (a.k.a. fermentable carbs), which can contribute to bloating, gas, diarrhea, and other GI conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohns disease when eaten in high quantities.

A 2016 review published in Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology showed that mostly all of the studies done on low FODMAP diets are correlated with improvement of IBS symptoms, with up to 86 percent of patients reporting fewer GI symptoms.

So, by sheer virtue of being mostly low in FODMAPs, the vertical diet may ease some of your GI distress. And, certainly, if youre an athlete looking to put on muscle, the nutrient profile here can help you meet your goals without causing other problems.

Usually, when you're trying to put on muscle mass and eating large quantities, you can feel overly full, gassy, and bloated, explains Shapiro. Vertical-diet foods are streamlined to digest easily and with minimal side effects. But because they are calorically dense, they assist with weight gain"unless, once again, you customize the plan for your goals.

Though the foods you eat on the vertical diet are relatively clean, whole foods, theres historically been a lot of concerns about the effects of high red meat consumption on overall health. The American Heart Association warns that eating too much red meat can have negative effects on your cholesterol levels and heart health, but some newer studiesincluding one done at the Harvard School of Public Healthdebate whether red meat is really to blame for heart disease.

This woman lost weight by adding meat back into her diet. Hear her story:

Its also worth noting that the vertical diet is fairly deficient in fiber, since it emphasizes white rice and cuts out whole grains, legumes, and some vegetables. Shapiro says that fiber is crucial for maintaining cholesterol levels and heart health (not to mention regular bowel movements). She also notes that the diet is low in probiotics (because it cuts out most fermented foods) and high in animal protein, saturated fat, and simple carbs.

So although youre eating cleaner, youre not necessarily eating more nutritiouslyand you could suffer from a lack of fiber and probiotics if youre not compensating for those losses.

Shapiro says if youre a bodybuilder or extreme athlete looking to put on mass as your number-one goal, the vertical diet can be an effective way to get there. And even if youre a more moderate gym rat, she says, it can still work for youbut with some important modifications.

I would recommend including additional sprouted grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruits, and limiting the intake of saturated fat from red meat and full-fat dairy, Shapiro advises.

I would recommend including additional sprouted grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruits, and limiting the intake of saturated fat..."

Although the diet mostly eliminates added sugars and processed foods (always a good thing), casual dieters just looking to lose weight might struggle to follow the high-protein, high-carb requirements of the vertical diet without accidentally gaining weight. And they might find themselves deficient in many nutrients that contribute to a broader definition of health.

At the end of the day, it's your call, but only try an eating plan that suits younot your kinda-obnoxious, CrossFit-obsessed next-door neighbor.

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What Is The Vertical Diet? An RD Reviews The CrossFit Eating Plan - Women's Health

EMMA Bass felt sick to her stomach as she saw a photo of herself "bursting" out of her dress at a work Christmas party.

The children's nanny, 39, had ballooned to a staggering 16 stone after scoffing biscuits and gorging on double dinners for as long as she could remember.

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And Emma, from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, was completely horrified when she saw just how much weight she had piled on over the years.

Determined to slim down in time for her wedding day, Emma overhauled her diet and has since shed an incredible six stone.

She tied the knot to her love of her life Russell Bass, 44, in a trim size 12 bridal gown - and is now happier than she's ever been.

Emma said: "It was something I did myself, nobody else did it for me. It was hard work, but it was a real achievement."

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Emma admits she had always struggled with her weight since childhood - and was bullied at school because of her size.

I was overweight at school and would get bullied," Emma said.

"At home, food was always there. There would be a pudding with every meal.

I did lose some weight when I was 15, but the bullies found something else to pick on, so I went back to my old ways.

As an adult, I tried different diets, but never really stuck to anything, and eventually got to 16st 3lb and was wearing a size 22."

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At that point, 5ft 4in Emma had a body mass index (BMI), used to measure a healthy weight, of 38.5 compared to the NHS recommended figure of between 18.5 to 24.9, meaning she was obese.

However, Emma, who has a son Zac, eight, and a teenage stepson, continued to gorge on huge amounts of food to deal with her emotions.

She said: "Food had always been a massive comfort to me, so I had grown used to eating on my feelings and had just been getting bigger and bigger.

"I told myself I didnt care what I looked like, but really I was feeling so rubbish about myself.

"My self-esteem was at rock bottom, so I didnt feel like it mattered what I was eating."

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Despite this, Emma soon realised the huge toll it was having on her life - especially the physical demands that came with her nannying job.

She said: "I always had bad knees and my back always hurt.

"I had quite a physical job as a nanny and found getting the children in and out of the car quite hard.

I never had any portion control and would eat a lot of carbs, like a big portion of lasagne and chips for tea

"I never had any portion control and would eat a lot of carbs, like a big portion of lasagne and chips for tea.

"I would sometimes eat two dinners, eating my main meal at work then a bowl of cereal when I got home, or the other way round.

"Id sit with a friend and wed think nothing of sharing a whole packet of biscuits between us."

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Emma's weight meant she also struggled with dating - which just made her spiral into an even deeper depression.

She added: "I went on dating apps, but that was bad for my confidence. Id look my best in the picture, but when dates meet me theyd realise Im a bigger girl and that would be it.

"Ive got a history of depression, so looking after myself hasnt always been important.

"I always found if I was having a bad patch I would turn to food for comfort and my healthy lifestyle became more of a battle."

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However, Emma's wake-up call came when she saw a picture of herself at her work Christmas party.

She continued: "I knew I was big, but the turning point came after seeing myself in a photo from a work Christmas do in December 2015.

"Id felt quite glamorous on that night. I liked the dress Id bought, so it was quite a shock when I saw the picture and realised how big I was.

"It felt like every bit of me was bursting out of the dress."

Shortly after, Emma visited the doctor for a review of her contraceptive pill - and it was there she was referred to slimming club WW.

I knew I was big, but the turning point came after seeing myself in a photo from a work Christmas do

Emma soon signed up to the group and gradually saw the pounds drop off.

"The WW system would give me control over my portion sizes," she said.

"Nothing was off limits which really helped.

"My weight loss journey has been slow its taken me three and a half years and a lot of hard work because I did it in small steps, rather than having a massive loss but its worked.

"Mine isnt a typical story really.

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"My weight came off very slowly and there were set backs, as I had some short relationships which had ended, but its still significant and I want people to know that losing weight is different for everyone, and not to give up."

By January 2017, Emma met her now-husband Russell online and the following December he proposed at the ice rink at the Natural History Museum in London.

This spurred Emma on to lose more weight - as she was eager to look her best in her wedding dress.

"The wedding was planned for that July, so for the next six months I had a massive incentive to motivate me," she said.

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"I started going to the gym and invested in a personal trainer, having previously done no exercise.

"I would go to the gym two or three times a week.

"I got a step tracker and started walking into work, becoming quite competitive about getting my steps in."

Emma added: "I bought my wedding dress in January and it was a size 16, but I should have bought a size 12, as by the time of our wedding my body shape changed so much, because of the exercise.

"The alterations cost almost as much as the dress!

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"I know a lot of brides buy a dress too small as motivation, but I didnt want that kind of pressure.

"If Id fallen over and broken my leg and not been able to exercise I would never have lost that weight."

Before the wedding, Emma enjoyed the fruits of her labour in the gym when she bought a size 14 playsuit for her hen night, which made her "feel on top of the world."

She said: "It had always been a real challenge finding things that had fitted. I would hide away in baggy clothes, but this was completely different.

Im a lot more energetic and doing things I never thought I would do now

"It was an amazing feeling wearing the playsuit, then going on to walk down the aisle in my wedding dress, knowing I was looking the best I possibly could."

Wearing her wedding dress was just one of the many memorable experiences that made Emmas weight loss feel worthwhile.

She said: I cried when I bought my first pair of size 12 shorts. And it was a monumental feeling dropping into the 10 stone bracket in March this year.

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As a child, I lost weight to stop the bullying and, as an adult, if I lost weight it would be to please someone in a relationship, but this time I really did it for me."

Emma is now a lot more active and has become a running fanatic.

She added: "Im a lot more energetic and doing things I never thought I would do now, like completing the coach to 5k running app.

If youd told me when I was a size 22 that Id be doing that and taking part in park runs I would never have believed you.

GOOD FOR MY ELF I lost over seven stone after seeing my unflattering Christmas party pics

FAT TO FIT I lost 16st after fearing I was so fat I'd be made into a meme

WEIGH HEY Woman who gorged on 10,000 calories a DAY sheds 25st after docs warning

WOWIE Haribo addict lost 7st after cruel trolls yelled 'Gemma Collins' at her in the street

LOOSE WINNING Denise Welch, 61, shows off 2st weight loss in plunging swimsuit in Barbados

LEAN OF THE JUNGLE Jac Jossa's weight loss hailed by fans in snaps taken just 3 weeks apart

WEIGH TO GO I shed 9st on keto diet after binge-eating disorder left me gorging on pizzas

TRANSFORMED Woman sheds staggering 10st after crying at her own reflection

GAME ON Playing Xbox helped me lose 10st after getting so big I could barely walk

Its really good for my son, too. There is always fruit and veg in the house, we have salad with every meal and he knows that Im doing my exercise and how important that is.

"Now Im a healthy weight, I really feel I can be a good role model to him."

For more information on WW you can visit their website here, and you can follow Emma on Instagram here.

More here:
Weight loss: I shed 6st so I could tie the knot in size 12 wedding dress of my dreams - The Sun

SLIPPING into her red dress for the Christmas ball, Lauren Fidler was feeling festive.

But it wasnt until she saw a photo of herself days later that she burst into tears, realising her weight had crept up and her curves filled her size-22 outfit.

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She vowed never to spend another Christmas unhappy with her size and has since lost more than seven stone.

This Christmas Lauren, a marine biologist, will be rocking festive frocks and feeling confident.

Lauren, 22, says: Im really excited for Christmas this year; I cant wait to go to lots of parties and wear dresses that Id never have dreamed of even trying on before I lost the weight.

Lauren, from Plymouth, was always an overweight child and struggled with her size. She was bullied at secondary school, due to her size-14 frame.

She says: Since school I was always much bigger than my friends it made me so self-conscious and really affected my confidence.

I was bullied for being bigger, which made me feel awful, so I ended up being a hermit and eating more. It was such a vicious cycle.

At the age of 13, Lauren was also diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with symptoms including extreme tiredness, muscle aches, restless leg syndrome and depression.

She says: It made me miserable and the comfort eating became worse than ever.

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Sometimes Id even have three ready meals just for lunch, and that wasnt even including snacks.

I would have flare-ups all the time. They could go on for four or five weeks where I just wasnt able to leave the house.

I didnt have a social life and was always depressed and tired. I couldnt see a way to turn my life around.

In 2015, after finishing school, Lauren began studying at Plymouth University. Here, during her first year, she met her boyfriend, Will.

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But Lauren continued to gain weight during her studies, going from a size 18 to a size 22 and up to 17st 12lb.

Her weight started to affect her relationship with Will as she found herself relying on him for support with chores rather than spending quality time with each other.

She says: Me being so big was really impacting our relationship as I had no confidence. I could barely go to the shop on my own. He became more like my carer than my partner.

I hated going out and would just sit home and comfort eat all day long if I could.

It got to the point where Will ended up getting really quite worried about my health.

But when Christmas was approaching and more social events came up, Lauren decided to get in the festive spirit and get glammed up for the universitys annual Marine Biology Christmas Ball in 2016.

Choosing a slinky red dress with some elf ears for fun, she began to get excited.

She says: Id gone to that Christmas party and actually, despite being chronically shy about how big I was, I thought I looked quite good that night.

But when I saw the pictures afterwards I felt like an idiot. I looked huge.

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I tried to make a joke about being Santas not-so-little helper but deep down I hated it, I felt hideous.

It is horrible, because after a few drinks I felt so confident that night.

Lauren said she felt ashamed and cried all day, then decided she was never going to feel like that again.

A month later, in January 2017, she signed up to Slimming World aiming to retrain her brain to understand what was and wasnt healthy, and started going to the gym.

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She credits Will, now 24 and a field service engineer, as helping her to achieve her weight goal.

She says: Will really helped and even took me to the gym the first few times and would prepare my healthy meals if I felt too tired or ill.

Hes such a star, I couldnt have done it without him and hes even lost a stone himself by helping me.

Lauren has dropped six dress sizes to a size 10 and weighs 10st 9lb. She now understands where she was going wrong with her diet.

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She would add cheese to everything and would have two or three takeaways a week. She still refuses to deny herself her favourite foods, but limits them.

She says: I still love cheese so I have what I want but will just have much less or go for the lighter options.

I dont believe in starving myself or cutting anything totally out as I do enjoy my food but its just much more under control now.

I can have a bit of cheese board, but instead of eating a whole lump of cheddar and the whole box of crackers, Ill just have a few. I know my limits whereas before I could eat endlessly.

And it is not just the food I have swapped, I go to the gym at least three times a week now and do classes, PT sessions, boxing and weightlifting.

And her new body has not just helped her health, but her social life, too.

She says: Everything is different now, Ive got new hobbies, lots more friends and Im willing to give anything a try.

Its been really good for Will and I, too, as hes not having to look after me all the time and we can have a lot more fun together.

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Im not so dependent on him now. It is great.

And when it comes to festive food, Lauren has some tips for others trying to limit the calories.

She says: At first I thought Christmas would be a hard time as everyone overindulges and I was worried Id fall off the wagon but in fact Ive found it quite easy.

Referring to Slimming Worlds treat items, or Syns, she continued: Ill prepare myself a Syn-free cheesecake or some muffins and then I know I can have a treat but I dont have to feel guilty as its well within the boundaries of my diet.

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And on a daily basis I do the same, so Ive swapped big chunks of white bread for smaller slices of wholemeal and swapped oil for a lighter version.

My top tips at Christmas is to definitely not beat yourself up if you overindulge.

Lots of Christmas bits are OK to eat or can easily be made OK like not using oil or fat, removing skin and using the low-calorie oil spray.

Christmas dinner can be quite healthy too as its mainly vegetables, and turkey is a good lean meat.

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Its just the extra bits on the side you have to worry about, like shop-bought cranberry sauce. It is better to make your own.

Steering clear from cooking veg in butter makes a big difference. And staying active. We always love a long walk, all wrapped up warm.

Enjoy yourself and dont feel guilty. The journey is just as important as the end goal.

More here:
Weight loss: I lost 7st after seeing my unflattering festive party pics, now I cant wait to be confident at C - The Sun

Weight gain can creep up on us. Over the winter months we enjoy foods that create a feeling of comfort and warmth. Many of these foods tend to be higher in calories, usually from fat or added sugars.

As we enter the summer months, some of us start to think about getting in shape and how were going to look in a bathing costume.

These concerns might be met with the temptation to seek a quick fix to weight loss. But this sort of approach is likely to mean finding yourself back in the same position this time next year.

Looking past the quick fix and fad diets to longer-term solutions will improve your chance of keeping the weight off and staying healthy all year round.

Read more: Health Check: why do we crave comfort food in winter?

Extra body fat is a risk factor for developing chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. With two in three Australians carrying too much body fat, many of us may be well-intentioned, but not making the best choices when it comes to what we eat.

Weight loss is largely a balance of choosing the right foods and being physically active in order to tip our internal energy balance scales in the right direction.

For the most part, quick-fix diets are based on calorie restriction as a means of weight loss. They focus on different strategies to get you to eat fewer calories without having to actively think about it.

Fad diets tend to share similar characteristics, such as eating fewer varieties of foods, fasting, and replacing meals.

Read more: Five food mistakes to avoid if you're trying to lose weight

But weight loss isnt just about swapping one or two foods for a month or two; its about establishing patterns to teach our bodies new habits that can be maintained into the future.

Fad diets and quick fix options can be limited in several respects. For example, they can be difficult to stick to, or people on them can regain weight quickly after stopping the diet. In some cases, there is insufficient research around their health effects in the longer term.

Lets take a look at the way some of these characteristics feature in three popular diets.

Juicing/detoxification

Juicing or detoxification diets usually last two to 21 days and require a person to attempt a juice-focused form of fasting, often in combination with vitamin or mineral supplements in place of all meals.

People on this diet lose weight rapidly because of the extremely low calorie intake. But this is a severely restricted type of diet and particularly difficult to follow long term without a risk of nutrient deficiency.

Also, while it might hold appeal as a marketing buzzword, detoxification is not a process the body needs to go though. Our livers are efficient at detoxifying with very little help.

Read more: Trust Me, I'm An Expert: what science says about how to lose weight and whether you really need to

Intermittent fasting

An intermittent fasting diet involves a combination of fasting days and usual eating days. The fasting strategies include complete fasting (no food or drinks are consumed on fasting days) and modified fasting (20-25% of calories is consumed on fasting days).

This diet leads to weight loss due to an overall decrease in calorie intake. But its hard to stick with the fasting pattern as it results in intense hunger. Similarly, this diet can lead to binge eating on usual eating days.

But even though people are allowed to eat what they want on non-fasting days, research shows most do not over-eat.

Read more: Blood type, Pioppi, gluten-free and Mediterranean which popular diets are fads?

Overall, for people who are able to stick with intermittent fasting, we dont have enough evidence on the benefits and harms of the diet over time.

Long term energy restriction without fasting may result in the same weight outcomes and may be a better approach to continued weight management.

The paleo diet

The palaeolithic (paleo) diet was designed to reflect the foods consumed by our Stone Age ancestors before the agricultural revolution.

The paleo diet excludes processed foods and sugars. This recommendation lines up with the current evidence-based dietary recommendations. However, the paleo diet also excludes two major food groups grain and dairy foods.

While short-term weight loss might be achieved, theres no conclusive proof of benefit for weight loss and nutritional balance in the long term. People who follow the paleo diet might be at risk of nutritional deficiencies if theyre not getting any grains or dairy.

So its worth taking cues from the paleo diet in terms of limiting processed foods and sugars. But if youre thinking of adopting the diet in its entirety, it would be important to seek support from a health professional to ensure youre not missing out on essential nutrients.

So how can you tell if a diet is likely to lead to long term weight loss success? Here are some questions to ask:

does it incorporate foods from across the five food groups?

is it flexible and practical?

can the foods be easily bought at the supermarket?

If the answer to these three questions is yes, youre likely on to a good one. But if youre getting at least one no, you might want to think carefully about whether the diet is the right choice for sustained weight loss.

Read more: Four simple food choices that help you lose weight and stay healthy

Of course, seeing results from a diet also depends on your level of commitment. While it may be easier to stay committed in the shorter term, if you want to keep the weight off year round, its important to make checking in with your food choices part of your ongoing routine.

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Hoping to get in shape for summer? Ditch the fads in favour of a diet more likely to stick - The Conversation AU