Has anyone got any tips for kicking starting a weight loss regime?

[LauraStQ]

I find planning helps - and working out a week of healthier meals and buying ingredients to make them, is really helpful. Anything else? I'm still struggling to get started after the excesses of the xmas period...

[Norni]

Having a goal to reach by a particular time seems to help.

[problemo]

A lot of my friends have slimmed down a lot for their wedding days. Maybe they'll put it all back on after though!

[Schwem7]

I find logging what I eat helps a lot, otherwise I tend to forget about some of the little things ive eaten throughout the day and end up overeating. If you have a smartphone, I'm currently using the MyFitnessPal app and its really useful, was free too! Helps you keep track of your weight and how many calories youve had each day!

[Oldgirl]

If you have a lot of weight to lose don't focus on your overall amount. Set small tagets and work to them. When you reach your first set target reward yourself with something nice, i.e. new top, dress, shoes etc or a Spa treat. Then move onto your second step. This way it will be more achievable.

If you have a bad day and over eat don't beat yourself up, don't dwell on it. One bad day does not make a disaster so just put it behind you and get back onto the right road. Good luck

[Hidden]

Get a decent set of bathroom scales and weigh yourself every morning before eating or exercising, i.e. after your first wee.

Record that somewhere - I keep mine in my Outlook Calendar - each day. Don't panic if you haven't lost any weight, or it's gone slightly up, since yesterday - just look for a weekly loss so that you continue going in the right direction.

Don't try to lose weight too quickly, Usually about 0.5 to 1 Kg (2.2 lbs) a week is about right.

It'll take you a little while to get the hang of the weight loss thing, so don't worry if everything isn't exactly perfect, 100% of the time. Adjust your eating and exercise as necessary to match if you are or are not losing weight and how quickly you're losing it.

If you do have a 'naughty' day, don't bash yourself up about it, just claw back the calorie intake over the following day(s).

In the final analysis it comes down to how much and how often you eat and how many calories your food contains.

I don't see it as a diet, or a weight-loss programme, I see it as just taking proper control of my eating. A kind of re-education / re-training process.