Whether it’s to eat more healthily, give up chocolate, start exercising or lose weight, many people believe they don’t have the motivation to do these things, or they have the motivation, but it soon starts to wane. I know, I’ve been there! Going to the gym then stopping, eating a whole packet of biscuits and then regretting it, eating in secret because you don’t want to admit your crisp habit… that was me.

‘Baby steps’ If you have a lot of weight to lose and it can be overwhelming to think about how much you ant to lose in total. Break it down and think about what you want to achieve in a smaller time frame. It can also be useful to not focus on weight so much, but just eating more healthily and getting some exercise. Start with increasing the amount of plant-based foods you eat. Increase your intake of fruits, veggies, pulses and whole grains, nuts and seeds and cut back on the processed foods and animal foods.

Break the cycle of emotional eating. Many people crave food when they’re not hungry. Take a moment to recognise this and to ask yourself what you’re feeling. I encourage everyone to find a distraction that works for them. This could be anything from doing some exercises to having a chat with a friend. You can retrain yourself to break the habit of eating when you’re not hungry. It’s a habit that can be replaced by a more useful one that is going to help you reach your goals. Be patient and keep practising 😊.