With Christmas and New Year around the corner, thousands of us will embark on a healthy eating plan to slim down before and after the festive season. But if you want your calorie counting to be a success, keep your diet plans a secret, warn experts.
Researchers from New York University found that keeping your diet a secret is the best way to maintain willpower, and that those who share their weight-loss goals with others are more likely to fail.
The study found that the positive reaction people receive when discussing their diet can be interpreted as accomplishment before they've reached their goal weight. Therefore, dieters are more likely to slack than those who keep regime to themselves.
"The danger is that you feel that you've already reached the goal and because of that, you don't have to act on it anymore," says professor of psychology Dr Peter Gollwitzer from the study.
The solution? "You can keep your mouth shut," advises Dr. Gollwitzer. "Another one is to form different kinds of intentions, not only say what you want to do but also when, where and how you want to do it. Or share you plans with a trusted few who can keep you on course."
If you're struggling to keep on track with your diet, take a look at these expert tips from Slimming World Obesity expert Dr James Stubbs and Dr Khandee Ahnaimugan, from The Weight Loss Doctor, on how to stay motivated on your diet.