Get ahead! 10 Small changes you can make this January to boost your weight loss

Here are 10 small changes you can stick to that will soon become healthy habits that have long lasting effects on your health and weight.
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The first month of the year often signals the start of new beginnings, and a time where many people want to make drastic changes to their lifestyle in the hope that they suddenly lose lots of weight.

However, more often that not it’s the small daily tweaks that can add up to big results. Small changes you can stick to will soon become healthy habits that have long lasting effects on your health and weight.

Whats more, having a complete overhaul of your diet and lifestyle can sometimes be a little overwhelming, but little things like having less potato’s at dinner, or walking just for 20 minutes a day, or swapping fizzy drinks to soda water can burn (or cut out) anything up to 200 calories a day.

So many mums who have had BIG weight loss results on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge, agree that even the minor changes can lead to massive weight loss results.

10 Tips to Boost your Weight Loss this month

1. Get Moving

It sounds simple enough, but getting off the bus one stop earlier, taking the stairs instead of the escalator, parking your car further away, all get those extra steps in and burn calories. Walking just 15 minutes a day can burn 60 calories, doing it twice there’s 120 calories gone. Even adding 10 squats in while you wait for your tea to steep, or while you brush your teeth can help. It’s the consistency that matters.

How to burn more calories on your daily walk

2. Watch the little ‘extras’

7 foods to AVOID at a restaurant if you want to lose weight

These might seem innocent enough, a little side of chips on a meal out, or just finishing off the kids leftovers, or that second glass of wine with the girls, but they all add up over time. Opting for a side of salad, throwing out the kids leftovers straight away, or having a soda water instead of the extra wine save you up to 150 calories.

3. Ditch the soft drink

Red cans of soft drink
Source: Istock.

This is probably one of the most significant changes you can make if you regularly drink soft drink. They are ladened with sugar and empty calories, and you are probably just drinking them because it’s become a habit. That habit can be broken and will make an enormous difference if you are keen to lose weight. Whilst diet sodas may seem like a good alternative, research suggests that switching to diet drinks might not be great for weight management either. Soda or plain water is always the best option!

See how this mum ditched sugary drinks and lost 40 kilos!

4. Go easy with the coffee

Admittedly, for a lot of mums their morning coffee is the one thing that keeps them going! While we’re not saying to cut out coffee completely, it’s important to be aware of exactly how many calories is in your favourite coffee. A full fat latte or cappuccino can have anything up to 150 calories, so maybe think about swapping to a long black or skimmed piccolo, or even enjoying them everything other day.

Try our Whipped Coffee Recipe – under 100 calories

5. Use less cooking oil

All cooking oils are not created equally in terms of health benefits, but all of them contain calories. Using less oil when cooking is an easy way to cut back on calories without ruining the taste of what you’re cooking. One tablespoon of olive oil can contain over 100 calories, so being mindful of this is a great way to reduce calorie intake. Try cooking sprays, or even water to fry off veggies.

6. Watch Hidden Sugars

This is a hard one because they are EVERYWHERE! In commercially bought sauces, condiments and processed food. But reducing your added sugar intake is one of the FASTEST ways to lose tummy fat, reduce calories, increase energy, improve your skin and lose excess kilos. 

Here are ten simple food swaps to help reduce your sugar intake.

7. Swap it don’t stop it

hidden veggie gooey chocolate brownie

No one is saying give up your favourite treats entirely. Losing weight is not sustainable if you constantly feel deprived. It’s more about making clever swaps or cutting back on those thing you know are heavy on the calories. If you crave something sweet after dinner, just halve it for the following evening.  The Healthy Mummy has heaps of amazing low calorie treats (especially chocolate ones) to keep you on track so you don’t feel deprived

Try these 10 amazing chocolate recipes all UNDER 200 calories

8. Watch your portion sizes


Portion control is one of the most important factors in weight loss, weight maintenance and weight gain, especially when you are trying to lose weight. You may be in the habit of piling on your plate at dinner time, but being mindful of your portions is key to losing weight. Try using a small plate can easily help you keep track of how much you are eating.

9. Start your day the right way

It’s so important to eat breakfast but many of us simply don’t. Getting the metabolism firing with a good breakfast full of nutrients sets us up for the day, with a full stomach and good dose of energy.

Some of our mums admit that swapping out bread for the Healthy Mummy smoothies was an easy switch that has had an impact.

Our Healthy Mummy smoothies are so easy to make, you will never skip breakfast again!

10. Get support

If you are serious about losing some weight and really want to boost your results, then don’t keep it to yourself. Make sure your loved ones and support network are aware of your goals. Don’t be afraid to ask them for their support either so they are not unknowingly constantly pushing temptations your way.

Jump onto the Healthy Mummy Facebook group and be inspired by the mums, advice and stories on the page.

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