The five fastest ways to lose weight according to leading dietitian

A lot of the time, when you want to lose a couple of kilos, it's because you'll have a date in mind. It could be a wedding (#shreddingforthewedding), the impending summer months, or an event where you'll be 'bumping' into your ex. 

So time is a big factor in the shredding, whilst also doing it a healthy and sustainable way. 

While there are literally hundreds of fad diets that can strip kilos in days, few of them work long-term.

So if you actually want to keep those kilos off, here are the best ones to give a go, as recommended by Susie Burrell, one of Australia’s leading dietitians.

1. CUT THE CARBS

While we need some carbohydrates for optimal metabolic function, in general, we eat far too much for the amount of activity that we do.

By cutting back on those foods that are laden with carbs you can expect to see a drop of a few kilos within days, and while much of this is fluid weight, the quick loss of those kilos will motivate you to pursue further weight loss. 

2. SWAP A MEAL

If you swap one of your standard meals for something light such as a meal replacement shake, a soup or a salad, this will cut down your calorie intake. 

Keeping your calorie intake especially low for one meal each day is another proven, successful weight loss strategy. By eating a lighter meal/meal replacement you cut that meal down to just 200-300 calories, which can be half of that of a regular - so you end up keeping your overall calorie intake lower without even realising it.

3. STOP SNACKING

Whilst noshing back a couple of pieces of chocolate or a piece of fruit doesn't seem like much at the time, all these smaller items add up to being an extra 400-600 calories at the end of the day.

Unless you are training for an hour or more, you are only likely to need a couple of light snacks, if any, throughout the day. 

4. STOP DRINKING YOUR CALORIES

Just because you're drinking it, doesn't mean it doesn't count towards your calories. 

And because we see it as a drink, it doesn't mean that we automatically eat less as a result. In addition, a constant flow of liquid sugars plays havoc with our natural hunger and fullness signals.

A simple way to slash calories and promote fat metabolism is to keep your intake of liquid calories to a minimum.

5. EAT OVER FEWER HOURS

Go longer without food at night allows the hormones that control fat metabolism in the body to work better. 

You'll be able to cut the calories by having 10-12 hours each day without any food, or stopping eating by 6 or 7pm and then not eating again until 8 or 9am.

Please note: we advise you talk to your GP or a health professional before making any drastic changes to your diet.