There’s no better time to get trimmer, ...and healthier HAPPIER

Losing excess weight has never been more crucial than it is right now. So ring out the old you and ring in a new one with the myww+ plan, because...

The tumultuous events of last year have shown all of us just how precious our health and well-being really are. Perhaps you saw a loved one suffering with Covid-19, or maybe you found the stresses and anxieties of lockdown a real struggle. You possibly also battled with your weight, and if so you certainly weren’t alone. Research shows that half of us put on more weight during lockdown, grazing at our desks while working from home, turning to the fridge to combat stress or indulging in a few too many glasses of wine.

Yet losing excess weight has never been more crucial than it is today. Research has shown that obesity and Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to being overweight, are clear risk factors for developing life-threatening Covid-19 complications as well as other serious diseases such as cancer.

We may now have the hope of a vaccination programme, but research also shows that this could be less effective if you’re obese than if you’re a healthy weight. This is because too much body fat, especially around your waist, makes your immune system less efficient and less able to produce the antibodies needed to make a vaccine successful.

So now, as we start a brand new year, there’s never been a better moment to make a fresh start and overhaul your lifestyle, making 2021 the year you discover a slimmer, healthier – and happier – you. ‘There is no time like the present to focus on your physical and mental wellbeing, which are the things that matter the most to all of us,’ says Julia Westgarth, Head of Programme at WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers. ‘There are many things we can’t control at the moment, such as how long it will take for life to get back to normal, but we can control what we put in our mouths and how much we move our bodies.

‘And this is where WW’S weightloss programme, myww+, comes in. Not only will it help you to lose weight, but it will also give you all the tools to lead a healthier life all round, underpinned by the latest behaviour-change strategies that have been scientifically proven to help you change your outlook on life and develop healthy habits.’

To get you off to a flying start, the Daily Mail has teamed up with WW to bring you a brilliant new series packed with delicious ways to shed unwanted pounds while enjoying a balanced nutritious diet, as well as advice for starting a new exercise programme and more besides. Starting today in Weekend magazine, continuing in tomorrow’s Mail on

Sunday and all next week in the Daily Mail, we will be bringing you expert tips on all aspects of healthy living from coping with stress to getting a good night’s sleep – as well as plenty of tried-and-tested mouthwatering WW recipes to enjoy while watching the pounds slip away.

No food is off-limits – and it certainly won’t feel like you’re depriving yourself as you dip your spoon into a luxurious bowl of chocolate peanut butter and banana oats for breakfast, sit down to a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup for lunch followed by a comforting dinner of chicken fajita pie – all featured in today’s pullout.

But everyone’s needs are different when it comes to losing weight – and a regimen that works well for one person may not suit another. That’s why myww+ offers you three food plans to choose from – Green, Blue and Purple – depending on the type of foods you like to eat and how you live your life (see panel below). All three are based on WW’S scientifi

follow, either take WW’S easy online assessment or simply choose the plan that appeals the most. Find out more at Ww.com/ Uk/how-it-works. All plans offer the same weight-loss success and health benefits.

WHICH PLAN IS FOR YOU?

GREEN offers the smallest list of Zeropoint foods, but the highest daily Smartpoints Budget with a minimum of 30. Zeropoint foods include more than 100 fruits and vegetables. You might choose Green if you eat out regularly and like tracking and portion-controlling your foods.

BLUE has a daily Smartpoints Budget minimum of 23 and the ability to base your meals around more than 200 Zeropoint foods. These include fruit and veg and also lean proteins, seafood, fatfree dairy, beans and eggs.

Blue appeals to people who like cooking but also want the flexibility to have the odd ready meal.

PURPLE has the longest list of Zeropoint foods (around 300); in addition to the ingredients on the Blue plan, you can also eat potatoes and wholegrain pasta and grains without counting. But this is counterbalanced by the smallest daily Smartpoints Budget minimum of 16. Purple is tailored for someone who likes to cook from scratch but doesn’t want to weigh or portion-control most of their food.

You can also boost your Smartpoints Budget by earning Fitpoints for any physical activity you do. On top of this, you also get extra weekly Smartpoints to use on treats and bigger portions; up to 4 unused Smartpoints from your daily Budget can be rolled over to your weeklies. As long as you don’t go over your total in any seven-day period, you can dip into your weeklies at any time. the choice – and the flexibility – is all yours! So why not sign up to WW to find out which plan is best for you? Ww.com/uk.