Are you unhappy with your physique and the way your body looks in general? If so, then join the club. In a recent survey conducted on members of the general public, 9 out of 10 people admitted that, if they could, they would reduce their body fat percentages and improve their bodies. Losing fat is not easy, but if you do things correctly, it isn’t as difficult as it could be. To help prove this to you, here’s a look at a few basic rules to live by if you want to lose weight. Don’t cut fat from your diet – People often assume that in order to lose weight, they need to cut fat out of their diets entirely. They don’t. Fat is not to be feared, at least, healthy fats aren’t. Healthy fats, like those found in coconut oil and oily fish, are actually very beneficial for the human body and have been proven to assist with weight loss. Healthy fats help speed up the metabolism, and therefore help you burn off more calories and enjoy more energy. For example, coconut oil is full of saturated fats, but these saturated fats are MCTs. MCTs are Medium Chain Triglycerides, and because of their molecular structure, the body actually uses them for energy instantly, in the same way as it does carbohydrates. Because of this, the fat is used for fuel, rather than being stored as body fat for use at a later date. Do not try to eat perfectly – Browse social media and you’ll see countless nutritionists and health gurus posting pictures of their organic, grass-fed, superfood-enriched meals, whilst preaching that the key to fat loss and healthy living is to eat super-clean. Of course you should eat clean and healthy foods, but you don’t need to eat perfectly every single day. You do not need to be eating wild Alaskan salmon with quinoa, flax seeds, and organic spinach and broccoli every day if you wish to lose weight. Of course these foods are very good for you, but if your only option is a grocery store salad topped off with a ready-to-eat chicken breast, you certainly won’t undo any of your hard work. It is simply not practical or sustainable to eat nutrient-dense superfoods every day of the week, so make do with what you have and the results will still be there. Never go grocery shopping whilst hungry – You’ve probably heard people talking about how important it is to not go grocery shopping whilst hungry, but do you know why that is? When we’re hungry, we don’t crave healthy food, we crave junk. When you’re shopping, you’re surrounded by temptation and will be far more likely to fill your cart with junk than healthy produce. Before you head to the store, make sure you eat a healthy and balanced meal. Never starve yourself – Starvation is not the key to weight loss, in fact, it has the exact opposite effect. When you starve yourself, your metabolism slows down so you feel tired, have less energy, and burn off fewer calories. Not only that, but when you do eat, your body will use fewer calories for energy meaning more of them will be stored as body fat. To key is to eat little and often. Aim to eat a small and balanced meal roughly every three hours. If you feel hungry, eat something, as hunger is your body’s way of telling you it needs energy.