For some women, an important part of looking and feeling their best is being healthy and staying within their ideal weight. Other women feel great whether they are size 4 or 24. No matter what your size you can still look great if you feel good about yourself and know how to choose clothing styles that have flattering lines.

Over the years I have been large and small; so I know what its like to be on a diet roller coaster. It wasnt until I learned how to take care of myself that I finally settled to a desirable weight and have rid myself of the constant internal nagging of how much I weigh. I am now at a place where I feel very comfortable with myself and nothing interferes with that. I hope the same for all women. If you would like to feel good and be at a healthy weight, I have a few suggestions this is what has worked for me.

1. Exercise. It can be as simple as going for a walk. Calories go in your body in the form of food and liquid and are expended in the form of exercise. Its like a bank account, deposit more than you take out and your balance will grow. If your balance is high, it might take a little time to get it down. Concentrate on living healthily. Dont focus on losing weight when you focus on losing weight you are telling yourself that you dont look good enough now and that causes stress.

2. Eat Lots of Fruits & Vegetables: Not only are fruits and vegetable full of vitamins and nutrients, they are easy to digest and virtually calorie free.

3. Sweets and Alcohol: You wont need to avoid those totally but be selective in how often you consume them. When you tell yourself you cant have something, you automatically want more of it. For example, if you want something sweet like a piece of chocolate cake, keep the portion small.

4. Eat Slowly: It takes twenty minutes after youve had enough food that your brain gets the message. When you eat slowly, you eat less and your food digests better.

5. Eat Often: Dont let yourself get too hungry. When you are really hungry you are more likely to over eat and to eat foods that are high in calories.

6. Avoid Fatty Foods: Stay away from fast food restaurants and deep fried foods. Fast foods are usually high in calories and will cause heart disease.

7. Dont Follow Fad Diets: Just think of all the diets that have come and gone the low fat diet, no fat diet, high carb, no meat, lots of meat etc. Its just a matter of time before a new diet or a new diet drug' will surface.

Sheila Dicks

Sheila is an Image Consultant who helps women choose clothes that make them feel more confident and self-assured.

As an Image Consultant Sheila conducts individual wardrobe counselling sessions and workshops where she uses a hands-on approach to teach women how to dress to suit their body type and look fabulous.