12 top tips: simple lifestyle changes to help you loose weight

If you're struggling with the motivation to lose weight, you are not alone. Weight loss isn't easy.

But there are number simple lifestyle changes that can help you along the way.

We spoke to two personal trainers, Anthony Healy and Carl Constanza, who gave us some of their top tips to help you loose weight, and improve your lifestyle.

Here's what the experts had to say...

1. Drink more water

"Mmm yes water"

 Often we think we are hungry when in fact we are just dehydrated. Buy a 2 litre bottle of water, put it on your desk, and make sure you finish it. It could even make you look younger!

2. Eat some protein/ and or good fats every 3 hours

Eggs are a good source of protein

 Anthony says 'protein and good fats keep our blood sugar levels stable and help avoid those sugar crashes and grabbing the nearest donut.'

3. Prepare healthy snacks for between meals

Other than your main meals, have snacks prepared. E.g. Cottage cheese, tomatoes, a sprinkle of olive oil on a ryvita. The protein keeps the sugar levels stable, and the good fats help you feel full and satisfied. Other snack ideas could be a teaspoon of peanut butter on a rice cake, a small handful of almonds, or low fat Greek yoghurt and handful of blueberries.

4. Drink (eat?) soups

This actually looks quite nice

 Soups are another way to help you feel full. Homemade ones are even better.

5. Cut out booze

If booze is one of your vices cut it out. The calories have no nutritional benefit. If you can't bare to cut it out completely switch to lower calorie drinks.

6. Stop having sugar in your tea and coffee

Simple changes like this can really make a difference over time. Switch fat and sugar laden drinks like caramel lattes for lower calorie Americano's. Here are some more sugar swaps to try.

7. Tell all your friends that you're on a health kick

Enlist their support ahead of time. Be wary of the “friend” that keeps insisting you have a drink!

8. Don't skip meals

Especially breakfast

Carl says 'skipping meals will slow the body's fat burning abilities down and promote low blood sugar levels which will make you crave sugary snacks'

10. Monitor portion size

Cavendish The breakfast. Cafe owner Mark Winder has laid claim to serving the most calorific full English breakfast in the country, at his Bear Grills dinner in Congleton, Cheshire.

This is too big.

 This is a highly effective tool, use your fist as a rough gauge. When serving a meal you should have three fist sized portions on your plate made up of carbs, proteins and greens.

11. Try and get enough sleep

Turn off that iPad and get some proper shut eye. It's essential you get sleep as this is when we repair and grow.

12. Set mini goals that are achievable over a short period of time

You can do it!

 This will keep you motivated for longer, and lots of little goals end up as one big goal.