ASPIRE To be different /

A 6 Step Plan to Hitting Your Weight Loss Goals

January is the month in which many of us try to shed the pounds. So, if you’re already feeling tempted to give up, here’s how to stick at it and hit your weight loss goals.

 

  1. Recognise Your Achievements

When people are trying to lose weight, they tend to be very harsh on themselves. Make sure you don’t fall into this trap because it can damage your morale and cause you to fail. When you lose some weight or you do well on a particular week, make sure you recognise what you’re doing well. Being harsh on yourself the whole time will not help you reach the goals that you’ve set for yourself.

 

  1. Assess Your Portion Sizes

Eating portions that are far bigger than they need to be is something many of us do without even realising. We tend to just pile the food on the plate until it looks about the right size to fend off the hunger. This is not the most scientific of approaches to portion control though. It’s better if you take the time to weigh out the food you are going to eat and be aware of how many calories it contains.

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  1. Find a Weight Loss Partner

Finding a partner is a great way to keep yourself going when times are tough. When you are alone on your weight loss journey, it is easy to give up. When you are on the journey with another person, there is some pressure on you to keep going for their sake. It also adds a degree of competition to the proceedings. You will be competing with one another to see who can hit their goals first.

 

  1. Remove Temptations

As Oscar Wilde put it, we can resist anything but temptation. This is a problem when you’re trying to improve your fitness and lose weight though! It could be the temptation to pick up a takeaway rather than cook a healthy meal or the temptation to snack on chocolate biscuits. These are the kinds of temptations that can completely derail your hopes of losing weight and getting fit. So, do everything you can to remove these temptations from your environment.

 

  1. Invest in Equipment

Getting fit is made a lot easier if you have the right equipment in place to make it happen. It could be a new pair of running shoes or you might be tempted by ones of those home treadmills . By investing in the right equipment, you will be more likely to stick to your weight loss plan. You’ll be able to exercise whenever you want without any excuses for not doing so. And because you’ve spent cash on these things, you’ll want to get your money’s worth.

 

  1. Motivate Yourself Daily

Motivation plays a huge role when it comes to losing weight. If you don’t have that motivation, you can easily lose interest and question why you’re even bothering to lose weight in the first place. We all know how easy it can be to give into the temptation to quit when we’re trying to do something that requires lots of effort. And there is definitely a lot of effort that has to go into losing weight and getting fit .

 

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ASPIRE To be different /

Eight secrets to easily boost your street cred

Eight secrets to easily boost your street cred

Anyone can be cool

Anyone can be cool

At school, were you one of the cool kids that the rest of the class looked up to or did you admire that group from afar? Although less intense, there’s still that pressure in adult life to be cool, to gain the respect of others. So how can you make subtle changes in your life and the way you behave to increase your cool status, without feeling like you have to try too hard, and without becoming a jerk?

 

  1. Be positive

No one enjoys being around a person who complains and is always down on the world. The cool guy gives off positive vibes and always has something good to say. As a consequence, they draw friends and admirers like moths to a flame. Always look for the positives in life and comment on them.

 

  1. Show confidence but don’t confuse that with arrogance

There’s a balance between showing inner confidence and being viewed as being too opinionated. See if you can strike that balance by talking less and listening more. When you say something, make sure it’s something that counts.

 

  1. Boost your knowledge

What's in a Mai Tai?

What’s in a Mai Tai?

Cool guys know a lot of stuff. They know what drinks to order at the bar, they’re able to tell you what’s in a Mai Tai and how to mix the perfect Martini. They know about food and they know what to order in a fancy restaurant.

 

Getting to grips with some cool hobbies is also a good idea. If you can play casino games, then you can show off your skills on a night out at the gaming tables with a group of friends. One of the world’s most iconic male characters - James Bond – certainly knows how to play at the casino. Take a leaf out of Bond’s book and learn how to play games such as roulette, craps and blackjack online at sites such as 32Red UK, Slot Boss or Dazzle casino. At 32Red there’s a wide range of different casino classics to play and as a new player making a first deposit, you get an extra £32 of credit for every £10 you put in, which gives you plenty of bonus cash to practise with.
Know what you're doing at a gaming table
Know what you’re doing at a gaming table

Once you’ve got an idea of how to play different table games at a casino, you’re well on the way to looking like a man who knows his stuff.

 

  1. Carry yourself confidently

The way you walk and the way you stand at a bar or at a party can speak volumes about what kind of person you are. Aim to stand tall and walk into a room with confidence. Even if you don’t feel that confident, appearing as if you are will fool any onlookers and will actually serve to increase your inner confidence.

 

  1. Be true to yourself

Follow your own rules and don’t go with the crowd for the sake of it. If you’re on holiday with friends and they all decide to get a tattoo, that doesn’t mean you have to. Think about being yourself, meeting your own expectations, rather than trying to fit the mould others have in mind for you.

 

  1. Don’t think you’re better or smarter than others

Cool guys aren’t always right. Be open to the concept that other people you meet in life will sometimes know more than you or be more intelligent than you. Be flexible enough to admit your way of doing things may not be the only way. You don’t need to constantly prove how clever you are. Let your actions demonstrate that for you.

 

  1. Put yourself out for others

No one’s cool if they’re not willing to put themselves out for other people now and then. Be prepared to help someone in need – an old lady crossing the road, or a young mum struggling up a set of stairs with a pushchair. You don’t need to make too much of an effort to help others, and it’ll feel good about yourself, as well as earn you points with the people around you.

 

  1. Personal hygiene matters

A last (if rather obvious) thing to remember. Cool guys are always well-groomed and it’s not just about the clothes they wear. Brush your teeth, trim your nails, get a good haircut, keep on top of all those little details that show that you make an effort and care about being presentable.

 

 

ASPIRE To be different /

How To Get New Year’s Party Ready In 3 Simple Steps

 

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New Year is one of the social events of the year, so you need to be ready for it. It’s the night you can let your hair down and reflect over the events of the past year. Whether you’re a guy or a girl, you need to start your preparations early, regardless of where you are going. Use these three simple steps to get your ready to celebrate the New Year in style.

 

Start getting organised

So you’ve decided where you’re going, and now you need to start preparing as soon as you can. That way you avoid having a last minute rush and forgetting essential items that you may need. This is especially important if you are staying overnight in a hotel or at a friends house. Start thinking about a new outfit and shoes that will be appropriate for the party vibe and location. Remember to factor in the extra time it could take for your items to arrive if you’re buying online and always have a backup outfit planned too. If you plan early enough, you may even have time to get body contouring to fit into that dress you love . Or get some dermal fillers to keep your skin looking youthful. Services like hairdressers and barbers will get booked up early so get an appointment now to avoid disappointment.

 

Think about where you are going

So you may have got your outfit and hair sorted, but is it appropriate for the venue? If you’re going to a friend’s house party, it’s unlikely that you will need to be fully suited and booted. Ask the host what they plan to wear and go from there. You don’t want to appear overdressed. If you’re going to a club or restaurant, check out their social media and website to see what kind of vibe it has. This should make it easier for you to know whether you can make a statement with your look or not. Knowing where you are going will also make it much easier to plan travel and accommodation for the evening .

 

Stay safe

Your phone, wallet and keys are all essential items you will need during the night. But what should happen if you get robbed during the celebrations. This could stop you from getting in touch with your friends and even prevent you from getting home. Before you head out, keep some emergency money in a safe place, such as your shoe or inside a small pocket in a bag or coat. If you can, also keep your keys in the same place. Don’t use this money unless you absolutely have to. Also don’t flash your phone or wallet around as it will attract the wrong kind of attention. Talk to your friends about a place you can meet if you lose each other in the chaos of the event. That way if you get separated you will all know where to find each other again. Safety and sticking together should be a priority and not stop you from having the time of your life.

 

These steps should help make your New Year’s Eve a night to remember for all the right reasons. Ensure that you have a resolution planned beforehand and have a great time.