Having excess fat around the waist area is a much bigger concern than just feeling a bit tight in your jeans. Having too much fat around the organs inside the tummy can set you up for some serious health problems. We call this fat - visceral fat. It produces inflammatory hormones that over time, can promote long-lasting inflammation. It also releases free fatty acids that increases the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, heart disease and even certain cancers.

Without a proper body composition assessment, it's hard to judge how much visceral fat you have.

Weight Loss: Is your body "summer ready"?

It has begun… Magazines, blogs, adverts about getting into shape for your summer body. But health isn't only a summer activity. And you shouldn't only be eating for the appearance of your body. Along with the "beach body" marketing comes an onslaught of absurd fad diets and expensive programs for weight loss and detoxes that ultimately lead to long-term weight gain…not to mention lower self-esteem, anxiety and an obsession with food. This summer, try eating for your body, instead of that bikini and implement these practices to eat for a healthier body through

Eating snacks in-between meals can help to tie you over until your next main meal, and may even help you not to overeat at main meals. When opting for snacks, I always choose a wholegrain or low Glycemic Index (GI) carbohydrate and/ or a source of lean protein, depending on how hungry I am and how long away I am from eating my next main meal. Here are some easy, packable snack ideas

1. Fruit and nut trail mix

This snack provides healthy fats, some protein and a serving of fruit. It is easy to pack and convenient size to pack

Losing weight is tough… Might it be that most of us feel that the effort we put in is somehow supposed to pay off more and quicker? Because weight loss does take effort. And it also takes time. And sometimes it just feels like you are putting in all the effort but not seeing the results. Let’s have a look at various influences that might be affecting your ability to lose weight.

1. Your calorie (energy) intake is too high

You may feel as though you’re not eating a lot of calories. But studies show that most of us tend

1. Be careful of hot beverages with lots of calories

We tend to drink more hot beverages in winter to warm us up – coffee, cappuccino’s, tea and hot chocolate drinks. If you add sugar or honey to these beverages, your daily calorie intake can quickly increase substantially and contribute to gaining a few extra kilograms over winter. Avoid or reduce the amount of sugar you use in these beverages, especially if you drink more than one in a day, and choose low sugar or sugar-free hot chocolate drinks. Also, be careful of milk coffees, cappuccino’s and sweet full fat milk