Here’s the biggest dieting secret there is . . . Banish faddy eating and stick to healthy foods plan

An Airdrie weight loss consultant is urging Monklands residents to“ditch the fad diets”and choose a slimming plan they can sustain.

Nicole McLean, who runs two Slimming World groups in her home town, said:“Lots of people start the year with the best of intentions, but by the end of January so many of them have given up – defeated by hunger, boredom or feelings of deprivation.

“I want people to know that losing weight doesn’t have to be that way, that not all slimming attempts are doomed and not all‘diets’are the same either.

“It’s easy to be wooed by the plans that promise the fastest loss, but it’s really important that slimmers in Airdrie think sensibly about which plan they choose and look at which offer the best chance of long-term success.

“Diets based on deprivation can be very unhealthy and are almost impossible to keep up, meaning you’re bound to throw in the towel and will probably be left feeling like a failure by the end of February.”

Instead, Nicole claims the key is to choose a realistic healthy eating plan and get support to make lifestyle changes.

She added:“There’s no denying that changing the habits of a lifetime can be challenging and there will be times, perhaps when your weight loss slows down or a bad week leads to a temporary gain, when it can be tempting to give up.

“That’s where getting support week in, week out to make changes and keep them up comes in.

“At Slimming World, members develop the skills and tools to overcome the psychological and emotional challenges that every slimmer faces at some point, including learning to be kind to yourself and get back on the horse when you do have a blip.

“Anyone who wants to lose weight will find a world of support at my Glenmavis or Petersburn groups.”

Nicole’s groups are held on Tuesdays in Glenmavis Social Club at 5.30pm or 7.30pm and every Wednesday in the function suite at the Four Isles Community Centre in Petersburn at 7.30pm.

● For further information on the groups, contact Nicole on 07903 418148.

Here to help Nicole runs weight-loss groups in Glenmavis and Petersburn