COVER Secrets to losing weight

Make 2019 the year that you say goodbye to your extra pounds and never see them creep back on again! We’ve got the secret to weight-loss success

Ahealthy diet and regular exercise will help you to drop a dress size or two – yet somehow each time, those pounds seem to reappear, sometimes they even bring a friend or two and you end up heavier than before!

In fact up to two thirds of dieters regain more weight than they lose on a diet, say researchers from UCLA. It doesn’t matter which diet you follow – the outcome’s the same. “Studies show that people on diets typically lose the largest amount of weight in the first six months, but then gradually regain that lost weight,” says behaviour change psychologist Dr Aria Jafari (ww.dr-aria.com). “This has shown to be the case for all diets, whether low-fat or high-fat, low-carb or high-carb.” Losing the weight isn’t a problem, it’s keeping it off that counts.

“The issue isn’t a lack of information. Knowing that you should eat more fruit and veg and do more exercise is different to actually living this way long term,” says Dr Jafari. “Most people know that it’s unhelpful to binge on junk food. Even when they’re full, they still find it virtually impossible to stop. In order to gain control over your eating and lose weight for good, you have to understand your own mindset. Then when your mind is in the right place, a long-term healthy lifestyle becomes much easier to follow every day.”

Is it your mind or body that’s in control of your appetite? Read on to find out!