Ok ,so the writing is on the wall and it spells out is clear big letters "You need to lose some - fatty!" Yep I've read that one myself a few times. But before you dive into your new lose program there are a few things that you should sort out before you get started. You want to make sure you set yourself up right because then you'll really be giving you the best possible chance of success. Let's take a little look at five different things you should do to get you off to a flying start.

1.Go and work out your target weight. This might seem a bit simple but really a lot of people actually start their lose program without a clear intent on exactly how much they want to lose. With no clear goal you'll fail every time. So, what exactly is your target weight? Right that number down on a big piece of paper and stick it on the fridge. You'll be less likely to open up that same fridge for just a little something if you haven't yet reached that number.

2. Keep a food diary for a week. This means grabbing a notebook and pen and physically writing down exactly what you've eaten that day. I suggest you do this for a week, again before you start your diet. It really will give you a clear indication of how much you're eating. It's good as a reference to come back to during your plan, as you'll see just how well you are doing overall. You'll be less likely to beat yourself up over a bad day where you feel like chucking it all in if you just have a quick look at this old diary.

3.Enlist a support crew and cheering squad. Everyone needs support when losing weight. You want someone to tell you your efforts are paying off and you look GREAT! I think if you're the main cook for the house this is particularly important. Get the whole family involved to help you. Get one person to help make the food choices for the day, someone  to help prepare the dinner and find someone else to exercise with. With your family and friends working with you on your goal you'll find it much easier to get there.

4.Go through the wardrobe and find that fantastic outfit you want to be able to fit back into. Then in "Biggest Loser" fashion hang it up so that you are always walking past it. This will definitely help to keep you focused on your target weight.

5.Pick a good day to start your lose program. This is just a bit of sensible thinking. You shouldn't start it on a day where you'll be having lots of friends over for a BBQ lunch for instance. Or on a weekend that you'd normally be hanging around the house snacking. Think about starting it on a day where you'll be fairly busy thinking about things other than food. But you must be prepared with knowing what meals you will be eating and have already got all the ingredients you need.

If you set yourself up right you'll find it so much easier to complete that lose program and reach your target weight. So to recap, put your target on the fridge, keep a food diary, get some great support behind you and find an outfit for inspiration. Then set a date and take the plunge into a new, healthier you, trust me it is so worth it!