At a time, when as a nation we are getting fatter and unhealthier, we need to seriously be looking at what we are eating and what we are giving our kids, the next generation, to eat.

Lots of people gain weight over the holiday period when increased food variety and the social environment contributes to overeating. It's too easy to say that you'll start next Monday, when the kids go back to school....

I was diagnosed with Grade 2 breast cancer in both breasts and had a double mastectomy.  Three months later, I was advised the cancer had spread to my bones, so I now have what is called metastatic breast cancer, otherwise commonly known as stage 4, incurable or terminal cancer. One day I will die from it.

It’s not only the emotional and social implications of carrying too much fat, it is the increasing health risks that come with it. With around 50-60% of New Zealand’s population now officially classified as overweight or obese, that has huge ramifications

Dr Fung is a nephrologist (kidney specialist) who was seeing a lot of Type 2 diabetics who were needing dialysis. He used to give out the time worn advice of ‘eat less and move more’ so his patients would lose weight. But, many of them weren’t and he came to the conclusion that there must be more to the weight loss equation.

I’m sure that is on a lot of people’s minds right now. With all the extras around, from the tempting supermarket displays, Christmas parties, treats at workplaces and nonstop advertising of delicious looking goodies, how can you get through the next few weeks without having to loosen your belt or jeans button?

What does the word Diet conjure up in your mind? To me it implies deprivation, hunger, unpleasantness and, most of all, a temporary situation.

I really dislike the word diet.

When it comes to fat loss the most important thing you need to do is to reduce your carbohydrate intake. Yes, you probably need to reduce your overall energy intake and do a bit of exercise too, but if too many calories in your diet are coming from carbs, then you most likely won’t achieve the result you want, as easily as you want. Reducing carbs and increasing fat also helps kill hunger. Sound good?

What do you think of when you hear the terms Real Food or Clean Food?  I suspect that many people are left wondering when someone tells them they should be eating clean food. To me, real food is food as nature presented it, or to use the term that Dr Caryn Zinn uses, food with low HI. Low Human Interference.

This is quite a common problem and while not always diet related, it does pay to ensure that your diet and lifestyle are not adding to the issue. Here are some tips:

Re-gaining weight previously lost is something that most people are familiar with. You put the effort in, lose the weight, feel great and then you take your eye off the ball and the weight slides back on again.
Is it inevitable? No it isn’t

Lemons are in abundance at the moment so make the most of them. Here are some suggestions on how to use them.

If you want to be leaner, fitter and healthier, then most likely you will need to be open to modifying some of the habits that are unhelpful and which are keeping you in a place where you aren’t happy now.

Nearly every week I meet new clients, in their late-40’s and beyond, who are convinced that it is their stage of life which is to blame for their expanding waistline. They have almost resigned themselves to be overweight and out of shape. They believe that it is their destiny to have rolls of fat rippling under their bras and for muffin tops to infiltrate their trousers.  You know what? It isn’t. 

This is the time of year when so many people succumb to colds and bugs so it makes sense to not only eat well and exercise regularly to help keep your immune system strong, but to also have on hand some potent immune booster products. Check out the offer here.

I don’t know about you, but with the shorter days and cooler temperatures we naturally seem to want to eat more. Maybe nature wants us to store fat for winter, like bears do, but unlike bears we don’t stop eating for a few months over winter!  If only....... Here's some great tips to help you feel fuller for longer and not put on those extra kilos this between now and Spring.

Well it isn’t particularly wintery yet, but the change of season and shorter days seems to send us looking for more substantial food.

Have you tried to lose weight more than once? Do you start off with great intentions but peter out a few weeks later?  Do you love the idea of losing weight and being healthier, but dislike the process required to achieve those goals? You are not alone! Here are some things to consider to help you stay on track.

Eating out, meals with friends, takeaways? When your meal is prepared by someone else you have little or no control over how it is actually cooked and what goes in it. If your goal is fat loss, then this can definitely slow your progress. Minimise the damage with these basic steps.

By the end of March I find that my new in January clients are starting to ‘fall off’. They start off super keen to get rid of the Xmas excesses, but by the time Easter Bunny has made his appearance their motivation is beginning to falter.