I am 38 going on 39, and have noticed over the last few months that I am carrying a spare tire around my waist. It’s not a very large spare tire at the moment, but it’s a spare tire none the less! I used to boast to my friends about the fact that I could eat and drink anything I desired and not put on the weight. Now I can’t help noticing the package of blubber I am carrying around every time I bend down to pick something up! How has this happened I moan to myself. Well for a start, my penchant for onion rings and nachos is not helping me in my battle with the bulge. They will have to go if I am to lose the fat which has surreptitiously made its home around my once trim waistline.

Middle aged spread is a term infused in the Western conscience and it’s a spread full of fat and excess calories. Many of us lead pretty sedentary lifestyles, working in offices and driving to places when really we are quite capable of walking. We also have easy access to fast food outlets which tempt us with their time saving convenience and deep fried deliciousness. There are so many ways to lose weight on offer today, that it can be quite confusing. In the last month, I have been attempting to rid myself of my spare tire by following three simple rules which seem to be working for me so far:

Firstly, I have stopped snacking between meals. This has definitely been one of the major culprits for my weight gain. In my twenties, I could get away with feeding my body with junk as my metabolism rate was a lot higher. Before my new found enthusiasm to shed a few pounds, I could easily get through a 100g packet of Doritos while watching a movie. At around 500 calories per 100g packet, this works out at around a fifth of my daily recommended calorie intake. Finding ways to lose weight is not rocket science is it!

Secondly, a purge on the amount of carbs I was eating was on the menu. We’ve all heard of the Atkins Diet, and although I am not following that program, we in the West do tend to go overboard with the amount of pasta, rice and potatoes that we consume at meal times. Unless you are leading a physically demanding lifestyle, we don’t require the surplus energy which that extra portion of Aunt Bessie’s roast potatoes will supply you with. The same goes for sugary treats. All this excess calorific value gets stored as fat if it isn’t used.

Thirdly, I have started going to the gym three times a week and focusing on doing more cardio-vascular exercise in general. Middle age spread is notoriously difficult to shed, and changing diet alone may not be sufficient. Rigorous exercise a few times a week will burn the fat which has been building up over the years and leave you looking leaner and feeling fitter. In any case, going to the gym or taking up sport will instill in your mindset that you are changing your lifestyle for the better and will motivate you to follow through the first two steps concerning a healthier diet.

These three simple suggestions seem to be working so far as I have lost 1 kg in the last 2 weeks and am feeling and looking much better for it too. My wife thinks so anyway! However, I also think it’s important to give yourself an occasional treat now and then if you fancy it. After all, a packet of onion rings or Doritos here and there won’t make too much difference if you just follow some simple rules about the rest of your diet and lifestyle.