The first obstacle to successfully losing weight is you. Many of my clients that I see are usually referred by a doctor for weight loss. This means that many people are not yet mentally ready to lose weight as they feel that they are being pressured. The first step to successful weight loss is to make the commitment.

It takes time and effort to lose weight and one has to be 100 percent committed to achieving your goal. Family and friends need to offer emotional support; losing weight is a team effort.

If the people closest to you don’t give you the encouragement you so rightly deserve, then your weight-loss plan is doomed from the beginning. Be realistic on your weight loss goals. It is unrealistic to say that you can achieve 10kg weight loss in the first month. It is more realistic to lose 0.5 to 1kg per month.

Write smart objectives for losing weight on a piece of paper. That is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and trackable goals. An example of this would be to reduce your kilojoules by 1000 kilojoules per day and logging your kilojoule intake in the form of a food diary. Remember losing weight is challenging but it can be achieved by positive thinking and dedication.