Lose weight now!

1. Check your stress level

Eliminating stress is a biggie when it comes to losing weight because its effects on weight loss are two-fold. Not only can a stressful situation cause you to leave your healthy eating habits by the wayside, but you may actually seek out food to deal with emotional needs when you're stressed. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that more types of stress affect the waistlines of women compared to men. The study found women gained weight when grappling with financial problems, strained family relationships and feeling limited by life's circumstances. What's more, overweight women tend to gain more weight than their healthy weight counterparts. If you have a lot of stress in your life, take measures to reduce it, whether by meditation, exercise or speaking with a professional counsellor.

 2. Get a goodnight's sleep

Are you getting enough zzz's? Often overlooked, sleep plays an integral role in successful weight loss. Recent scientific studies show a strong link between sleep deprivation and long term weight gain. One study conducted by US researchers found that when study participants didn't get enough shut-eye they experienced weight gain - despite reporting a decrease in appetite, food cravings and food consumption. So how much is enough? There's no clear-cut answer, but studies show people who get less than five or six hours of sleep per night tend to weigh more and have increased body fat. Make an effort to get enough sleep by sticking to a regular schedule and turning off the computer and television an hour before going to bed to help you relax.

 3. Limit liquid calories

Healthy eating messages consistently tell us to limit unhealthy foods that are high in calories and fat. What often gets overlooked is the effect that liquid calories have on weight loss efforts. Calories from beverages, including soda, energy drinks, fruit juice and specialty coffees can quickly add up and hamper even the best-laid plans when it comes to losing weight. Stay clear of sweetened beverages, and instead opt for calorie-free fluids including water and herbal tea. Low-fat milk is also a good choice to bulk up on calcium - a nutrient linked to weight loss.

4.Opt for variety

If you're trying to cut calories by cutting out entire food groups, think again. Restrictive diets that eliminate whole food groups aren't sustainable when it comes to weight loss and are a sure fire way to gain weight back once you resort to your old eating habits. What's more, when you avoid whole food groups you're missing out on important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients needed for health and wellbeing. Taking extreme measures to lose weight by eliminating food groups, and using weight loss pills is not only ineffective, it is dangerous. Forget quick fixes; opt for healthy weight loss measures based on sustainable lifestyle changes for long-term success.

 5. Get the timing right

If you're making efforts to eat healthy, but tend to skip meals during the day, you may be doing more harm than good. Studies consistently show that skipping meals is associated with overeating. Aim to eat three balanced meals, with snacks in between if you're hungry. Spreading your calorie intake through the day allows your body to metabolise calories more efficiently. The saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day isn't that far from the truth. Not only does the morning meal set the tone for your eating habits for the rest of the day, breakfast eaters tend to weigh less and get more nutrients than those who skip out.

 6. Eat up

It sounds counter-intuitive,but not eating enough is acommon obstacle to successful weight loss. Eating too few calories can backfire when it comes to losing weight. That's because it puts your body in a state of starvation, and causes your metabolism to slow down in order to retain more calories, which means you stop losing weight. What's more, skipping out on too many calories can set up a cycle of deprivation followed by bingeing. Healthy weight loss plans shouldn't dip below 1200 calories for women and 1400 calories for men. Anything less and you run the risk of unsustainable weight loss and nutrient deficiencies.