There are so many ‘diets' around, ranging from some that aren’t too bad, to some that are just plain stupid and it has become very confusing for the average person looking to lose weight to know what to believe. The bottom line is – can you sustain it?

Hi Lynda, thanks for your help and assistance with my weight loss, and continual support throughout. There was such a gap between where I was weight-wise to where I wanted to be. It has been a challenging 10 months, lots of hard work and commitment, but such a small price to pay for reversing 15 years’ worth of poor lifestyle. 

Body composition vs weight. I know that for most of you what you see on the scales is very important, but really it isn’t about how much someone weighs, it is about how much of that weight is fat.

I think most people are finding the heat and humidity pretty tiring and it doesn’t make getting a decent sleep easy either. When we are tired it is all too easy to reach for quick fuel – usually carbs. Here are some simple, fresh food ideas that do not require too much time in the kitchen.

Don’t even think of going down the desperate detox/magic potion/magic supplement route in the hope of fast fat loss. Fast money and water loss yes, but fast, sustainable fat loss, no. Your body is quite capable of de-toxing itself and it does it every day. Read my tips on how to get back on track.

Enjoying good times with friends usually has a food and drink component, it is how we tend to socialise these days, but there are ways to minimise the damage if you choose to.

There is enough stress with shopping, guests coming and going and everything that must be done by Christmas, without adding in complicated recipes if you are short of time. Here are a couple of suggestions.

If you have a friend or family member who enjoys a healthy lifestyle, here are some gift suggestions.

This has to be just about the best time of the year for having access to an abundance of beautiful vegetables. All the greens are looking great, from rocket, to fancy lettuce leaves, to asparagus, spinach, celery and cucumber. Salad veggie prices are more reasonable now too, so think about the ways you can make interesting salads.

It’s very easy to find a reason why you can’t keep to your eating plan when your head isn’t in the right place. Our bodies crave sugar and when we eat it, our brain sends out feel-good chemicals that keep us coming back for more. Food addiction is a real thing and the more we stoke it with simple sugar and unhealthy food, the more we are driven to seek those foods.

I know change can be challenging, but your attitude is the key to long term weight loss. A few simple tweaks can start you on the right track.

Sometimes you just need to grab something fast, but you can’t think of anything healthy - read on for lots of ideas

Today, more than ever, we are bombarded with suggestions on what we should be eating. You can’t pick up a magazine without being told that some particular way of eating is the best thing out. Should we be following the 5:2 diet? How about the Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) diet that is popular right now? Should we cut out grains? Or dairy – or both? Should we be gluten free?

I’m sure if you ask just about anyone who goes to a gym what their goal is and they will say ‘to lose weight’. Well the bad news is that exercise is a very small player when it comes to fat loss. What goes in your mouth is absolutely the main player for losing weight.

Keep in mind that summer bodies are made in winter so you don’t want to leave it until October to panic about getting back into shape for summer.

That’s an interesting concept for a lot of people but in many cases weight loss comes down to the type of food you eat, more than cutting back on everything and starving yourself.

“Never feel embarrassed or awkward about coming back.” I mean that, the only failure is to give up and not try again. I would hate to think that someone was wanting help and direction again, but felt too embarrassed to get in touch.

Just lately I’m finding a lot of clients are coming in saying that they are struggling ‘to get their head in the right space’ when it comes to staying on track with their nutrition. Here are some suggestions that can help.

Often I see clients who have been told they are at risk of serious health consequences if they don’t change their diet and lifestyle. Do they need to eat a special diet? Not really. I would recommend following similar nutrition guidelines for most people, whether it be for weight loss, depression, lowering cholesterol or blood glucose, lowering inflammation in the body, increasing energy, or just feeling better about themselves.