These are the principles that have helped me lose 8 kg and get close to my 10% goal. No fad diet, no snake oil supplements, no books or DVDs. I write them down for myself, just in case, but perhaps they can help you, too.

  • Plenty of exercise. If you can't do your favourite sport, don't sit around, do something else. When I can't run, I cycle. When I can't cycle, I swim. I still don't like swimming (I hate swimming!), but I hate being idle even more.
  • Eat healthily. I gained my weight eating a healthy, pretty much vegan diet, and now I lost it again without changing what I ate. Still, not eating too many "empty" calories probably made eating less much easier, as I rarely felt hungry.
  • Only eat when you want to. Probably the biggest change. My desk used to be near the kitchen, so food was always at hand. It isn't anymore. I now have to walk down two stairs to get to the fridge (and I don't keep any snacks near my desk). I never starve myself, I simply don't eat without thinking about it. If you find yourself eating just out of convenience when you're not really hungry, try to make it less convenient. If you cannot create physical distance, try to create some mental distance between yourself and your fridge.
  • Get motivated. Looking at the DietBet photos helps. I also keep a photo of a leaner version of myself (I'm getting there), and posters of some of my favourite athletes for inspiration next to my mirror. Yes, it is a bit cheesy, but if it helps me staying motivated, then who cares. I'm sure you can think of something - whatever does it for you, just do it.
  • Tell someone. If you're already sharing your dietbet profile on facebook, you probably don't need to be told. I don't do that, but I told my best friend that I want to lose weight by the end of the summer. I still think I do it all for myself, but having that extra sense of accountability helps.
  • Stick to it. I missed the second round, and then I didn't way in for almost a month, but I didn't panick and always stuck to my plan. Of course, this sounds almost self-evident, but if you have fallen behind, it's not the end of the world. Don't try to make up for lost ground too quickly, just get back on track.