1.     Give up Starbucks – I know it sounds like a lot to give up but by cutting back on your daily coffee/muffin helping, you will not only shift the pounds but you’ll also save them in the bank.

2.     Walk – give up buses, taxis and trains, where you can, walk. It is advisable to keep a pair of easy to walk in shoes in your bag. You’ll be amazed at how invigorated you’ll feel by the time you get into work (and it’s so much easier than cycling).

3.     Cook – forget ready meals or canned soups and just cook food yourself. By cooking you become more aware of what you’re putting in your body. You will also avoid preservatives, hidden sugars and fats.

4.     Quit the gym – Gyms are fabulous for some of us, and for others it is the most depressing experience of the week. Instead learn what you need to do and exercise outside or in your lounge. Join classes, working with others will invigorate you and you’re more likely to push yourself and burn more calories.  And then you’ll be free to try new things, because pretending to go full throttle on the cross trainer, gets you nowhere.

5.     Eat fruit – Yes I am sure smoothies seem like a fabulous idea, you’re daily fruit intake in a bottle, but they are actually just sugar. The action of eating the fruit will burn some calories, but by whizzing some berries around in the blender, the fruit just becomes fructose. Smoothies will make you put on weight, and let’s face it they’re pretty costly. Stick with an apple girls.

6.     Bye  bye cleaners/dog walkers/gardeners – Doing the housework burns a staggering amount of calories and is a lot cheaper than having a cleaner. Yes it feels like a drag, but by doing it you can tick the exercise box for that day. If you think ‘I am getting fit’ then it will make it all the more pleasant.

7.     What is a treat? – Ask yourself this everytime you think you deserve one. Some days it might be a nice new top, others it might be a massive slice of chocolate cake. But stop and question yourself. Why is it a treat? Do you really want it? Do you really need it? Is it really worth it?