Now I bet that got your attention! Would you like some instant weight loss? We are always on the look-out for the next quick fix and fad. Well, here is a big weight loss secret to help you lose weight instantly. All you have to do is make a very clear decision– this is what you want, and this is the first and best start.

A lot of people tuned into The Marian Finucane Show on RTE Radio, when they hired me to work with Maria Barry. She had given up smoking 16 months earlier and had put on two stone in weight. Maria had her son’s wedding coming up and wanted to lose weight and look well for the big day. We had just 6 weeks to get the work done.

I put Maria on a walking and exercise programme (6 minutes per day at home) and a healthy eating plan and she lost one and a half stone in six weeks the safe way. Like any of my clients, Maria started her weight loss with a very clear decision that she no longer wanted to carry the extra weight around with her.

If you are reading this and thinking “I wouldn’t mind that myself”, then you first need to ask yourself: Why do I want to lose weight? Why is it that I don’t like carrying this weight? Is it that I can’t buy and wear the clothes I want? Is it that I have no energy?

It really doesn’t have to be like that, you need to take back control of your body.

We put rubbish food into our poor bodies and still expect it to fully function. We want all our organs: kidneys, liver, heart, lungs etc, not to mention the brain, to work perfectly yet we don’t give it the proper fuel. We also go around most of the time in a state of pure dehydration.

If you knew all the side-effects of dehydration, you would be drinking water like it is going out of fashion.

Let me give you a quick tip for including water in your day. Turn it into a habit.

Two small glasses before breakfast, two before lunch and two before your evening meal.
You could not give your body a better gift this summer. After three days you will have more energy, your digestive system will be clearer and you may even have dropped a few pounds on the scales.

And drinking a few extra cups of tea will not do the job; neither will lemonade or carbonated water– all you need is plain tap water!

If you are not a great water-drinker, then try this tip. Invest in a nice glass jug for your fridge. Chop a large orange or lemon into the water and store it in the fridge. It will give it a slight, subtle flavour which will make it more enjoyable to drink.

If you would like to set up your own Health Club with your friends at home and support each other in your weight loss or just get healthier, my page in ‘Prudence’ magazine available around August 23rd will get you started.

The ‘News Four’ Pre-Christmas Weight Loss Programme will be in the next edition of this paper. We are going to help you look your best this Christmas. We will organise a free motivational lecture and give you the guidelines you need to succeed! In the meantime, good luck with your new body!

If you would like more recipes or information on consultations with Helen, visit www.helenwalsh.ie or if you have a problem with your weight you can mail Helen on energymanagement@eircom.net or call the office on 260 5050.