How to keep the pounds off after dieting and still enjoy life

Eat slowly. When you eat fast, you often eat more than you need because your brain hasn't had time to notice and let you know that you're full.

Remember that your weight will naturally go up and down slightly, throughout your adult life. You may put on a pound or two when you're less active or more hungry, and at other times you will find it easy to eat less. Keep an eye on your weight changes, but don't torture yourself over slight temporary increases.

Check the nutritional information on your milk cartons, yogurts, desserts, ready meals, cereals, tins, frozen meals and other pre-packed foods. In particular, check the calorie and fat content. Are there other brands that offer you healthier alternatives? To find out, check products you've never had before and compare them to your usual ones. You'll find noticeable differences between products that look almost identical, and you'll discover some great meals in the process!

Freeze your leftover homemade meals, so you can eat them when you don't have time for cooking. Homemade meals are often healthier than ready meals. They usually contain less fat, salt and sugar. Avoid freezing meals with cream in them, but most other ingredients are fine. Here are some ideas: many soups freeze very well. To freeze roast meats cut them in slices or carve them first. Freeze your meals in small containers so later on you only have to defrost the amount you need. When freezing pies, cut them in portions first.

Learn to cook fast and healthy meals. There are some awesome cookery books that can help you create wonderfully tasting dishes in minutes. Here are some of them.

Are you not eating enough vegetables because you often run out of them? There's a great solution: check the frozen vegetable aisle at your supermarket. You'll find peas, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, French beans, broad beans, spinach, and many more vegetables. You can use them just like fresh vegetables in soups, salads, pies, stews, etc. If you're having peas with your meat, for example, all you need to do is put them as they are in the microwave for a couple of minutes. It's faster than boiling them and they keep the vitamins.

Throw some life and flavor into your salads. Salads don't have to be a sad looking arrangement of lettuce and tomato, with some bits of cucumber if you're lucky. There are all kinds of tasty leaves you can put in your salads, including fresh spinach, rocket, watercress, chicory, romaine lettuce, radicchio, etc. Other things you can add to your salads are: grated carrot, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, olives, anchovies, edible flowers, sultanas, beans, chick peas, red pepper, yellow pepper, thin zucchini slices, celery, cashew nuts, tinned tuna, etc., etc.

Overall, try to become more active. You don't have to join a gym or go jogging in the morning to stay fit. Every form of activity counts: gardening, house cleaning, playing with the kids, walking to the corner shop, Pilates, dancing. You name it.

Let your imagination guide you. We're used to seen certain foods together on our plate, and it can be difficult to see them in a different light. For instance, why have chips with your burger and not grilled vegetables or even rice? Also, did you know that some of the best Italian pizzas don't have any cheese? I was once given a wonderful pizza that just had tomato, basil, anchovies and a bit of olive oil. It was a treat for the gods!

Walk as much as you can. Walking is the most natural form of exercise and the one the human body is built for. Whenever possible, leave the car behind or use public transport. If you have to take the car, park it a bit further from the door than you usually would and walk the last couple of hundred yards.

Sleep no fewer than seven hours a day. When we lack sleep we tend to eat more, less health foods and more chaotically. We're often on edge and feel we deserve compensation, usually in the form of fat and sugar. In my experience, a good night's sleep will help you avoid feeling sorry for yourself and you'll be happy with your healthy meals.

Stay positive, even if you've put on a few pounds. The more optimistic you are, the easier you'll find it to regain your ideal weight. You'll also be happier and will look more beautiful!

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