You can achieve anything you want in life by getting motivated. The use of motivation is not at the heart of the diet industry, but it is the key to weight loss.

Think about any self-made millionaire, and if they are honest, they will tell you that their greatest fear is poverty. If you enjoy a happy family life it is not luck but because creating a happy family is very important to you.

Do you really want to lose weight for You?

Many people tell me they want to lose weight for their husband, wife, or children, but in reality they enjoy eating lots of food and snacking. They do not really want to reduce their intake of food and are not really prepared to exercise. They are living in the present and not thinking about their future good health.

To lose weight successfully, try these tips:

• Be specific and clear. Don’t say “I want to lose weight”, say “I want to lose 10 kilos”.

• Set a date for completion. This adds pressure.

• Now work out how much weight you need to lose each month.

• Track your progress in your diary.

• Make it difficult to back out. Tell people your goal.

• Take time to plan your meals at whatever level each day. Always eat and exercise by routine, at the same time each day.

• Choose the right time to lose weight. If you are feeling unhappy of depressed, this is not a good time to be demanding a lot of yourself. There are times when you need to be kind to yourself.

• Fear is a great motivator. If you are overweight, check out your BMI using the calculator at www.naturalhealthlines.com. If you are obese and don’t take steps you will have health problems. You can avoid this by losing weight.

• Remove temptation. If you buy your favorite snacks you will probably eat them. So why test your will power? Just don’t buy them.

If spending time alone at home makes you eat, avoid the situation. Plan time out and accept that you sometimes eat out of boredom.

Getting Active:

Exercise: No Time Is No Excuse

Do you feel that you simply do not have time to dedicate to exercising? If so, then maybe you should change your habits. Shorter bouts of exercise may be just as beneficial as longer ones, but if you exercise in 10, 15 or 30 minute sessions for just 30 minutes a week, aerobic capacity increases whilst body mass index decreases, regardless of the time spent. If you find that you cannot commit to a long exercise period, at least find a few times throughout the day that you can dedicate to exercising!

Low Fat Recipe of the Week

Steamed Hamour Fillets

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 kg Hamour fillets

360 ml (370 g) tomato juice

1-1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt, or to taste

1/2 tsp. white pepper, or to taste

Method

Preheat oven to 200°C. Place fillets in a baking dish. Combine tomato juice and seasonings in a bowl. Pour over fish. Cover and bake 12-18 minutes, until fish flakes easily.

Weight Watch:

The Sun Never Sets on Hydration

It’s easy to overlook your hydration even in the summer’s heat. But don’t be fooled into believing that you need less water just because you work out in an air-conditioned gym. Everyone’s need for water varies, depending upon what you eat and how much you sweat, but a general rule is to drink a quart of water for every hour of exercise you do.

Ask Alva

I am a very busy guy and my daily program running my business doesn’t give me time to exercise. I know I’m overweight and I think that if I could get some exercise it would help me lose some. Ali Mohammed

This week’s exercise tip could have been written for you! You know a lot of people make the excuse of being too busy to take exercise, but that’s all it is — an excuse! If you feel able to go to the gym then put it in your diary and make time. The best time to exercise is first thing in the morning before you eat. It will set you up for the day and make you feel more vital — try doing my Mini-Morning Workout by emailing for a free copy to [email protected].