When you pack that bag to go on a holiday or an expedition, its always necessary to plan ahead and pack to take into account the climate and terrain of the places to be visited. Metaphorically speaking the weight loss journey is no different.

It’s unlikely you’ll want to be wearing that super scant bikini or pair of tight swimming shorts at the outset, it just wouldn’t feel comfortable. But what is it that you would need emotionally speaking, to see you through the ups and downs of what will hopefully be an incredible Weight Loss journey.

Some might say that’s a Weight Loss journey to hell, take Factor 50,000 sun lotion and the biography of Adolph Hitler to help to blend you in with the crowd. More positive people would prepare you for the pitfalls ahead and advise accordingly. Lets pack that emotional suitcase now shall we.

As the old saying goes, the thousand mile journey begins with a single step. This means that the hardest part is starting, Set you goals, what you would like to achieve within realistic parameters. Think of how many footsteps there are in the thousand mile journey and consider each day to be a footstep toward your ultimate goal.

For every journey you need a map. What is it that will show you the way to your destination. This relates to the choices you make when eating. There are a list of golden rules for healthy eating, options which are not at all painful but which need to be adhered to.

Choosing the right options should be based on established science and not fashionable diets of the moment. Detailed plans weighing each individual item are generally very difficult to adhere to, so don’t make it hard on yourself, choose the principles of a healthy balanced diet.

Likewise, exercise should be regular, varied and enjoyable. There’s a method called Muscle Confusion that works on the basis that variation to exercise produces maximum results. On the basis that variety is the spice of like, I wouldn’t disagree that it does. Keep it interesting and remember: a little goes a long way.

This leads onto the most important factor of all. It is crucial to have the backdrop of a support network of friends and (particularly) family to see you through the hard times and to share the good times. Even if it is only the feeling that you are writing a postcard from a distant and lonely place, it will give you a major boost to know that love ones are waiting for you to come back home from your incredible weight loss journey.