Help with losing weight

Many Australians make resolutions at the start of the year but only around 15 per cent actually see them through. After the excesses of the festive season it’s hardly surprising that the number one resolution is to lose weight and now there’s a handy planner to help you reach your goal.

Launched early last year, the Federal Government’s Swap It, Don’t Stop It campaign is aimed at informing people of the benefit of making healthier lifestyle changes rather than simply giving up everything they enjoy. The associated website now offers a free 12-week planner to help people set short and long-term healthier lifestyle goals and give them the tools they need to succeed.

The planner can be used to help you make choices by simply swapping activities, meal choices and recipe ingredients. You can set your goals and monitor your progress by using the planner online, downloading it or using it as an App.

According to the 2007-08 National Health Survey, 68 per cent of adult men and 55 per cent of adult women are overweight. Action needs to be taken now to halt this worrying trend, which if it continues, will see 80 per cent of all Australian adults and a third of all children classed as overweight by 2020.

To see if the Swap It planner can help you achieve your healthier lifestyle goals, watch the ‘how to’ video or simply register and get started.

Would a planner such as Swap It help you to make better health choices? Do you think people will or will not change their lifestyles regardless of the Government's campaigns?