Set the scene
If you've been piling on the pounds over the festive period, take a few tips from the experts at Flora/Becel on how to eat better, look better and watch that extra weight drop off.
Losing weight is never easy and keeping it off is even tougher. But, by taking things slowly, adapting your eating habits and getting more active, you'll soon see results.
Be a good sport
There's no need to fork out for expensive gym membership – just try taking the stairs instead of the lift, make short journeys on foot instead of in the car, and get off the bus one stop early. It'll all add up to calorie-burning exercise.
Whether it's swimming or salsa dancing, tennis or tantric yoga, there's a sport to suit you. Find one you enjoy and you're far more likely to stick to it so shop around for your favourite.
Take five
The benefits of eating at least five portions of fruit or vegetables have long been known. But how much is the right amount? Our experts say one portion equates to a glass of fruit juice (the squeezed stuff, not orange squash), a dessert bowl full of salad, one medium-sized fruit or two tablespoons of raw, cooked, frozen or canned vegetables.
Drinking plenty of water will help you feel full too. Experts claim we need between six and eight glasses a day. It's cheap, refreshing and the perfect detox diet ingredient.
Go for good fats
Cutting down on fatty foods can help shift flab and lower cholesterol – but there's no need to radically re-think your buttered breakfast. Flora/Becel margarine spreads are rich in 'good fats' like Omega three-packed plant sterols, and low on unhealthy saturates and trans fats.
Opting for skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and lean meat will also help trim your fat intake.
