Need some help shifting those pounds? Just look to the stars, says astro expert Lisa Clark
Need some help shifting those pounds? Just look to the stars, says astro expert Lisa Clark.
Aries
An Arian’s interest in their health and appearance means they hate being overweight. You tend to start a diet with enormous enthusiasm, but unless you achieve rapid success you’re tempted to give up and move on to something new. Your dislike of restrictions as well as your impulsive nature can make it difficult for you to stick to a diet for very long. Yet, if you apply your many positive qualities, and get support, you can be very successful. This is not least because you love a challenge and have a great desire to succeed, so providing you accept your dieting weaknesses and take steps to overcome them – for example, by getting plenty of support you can achieve great results.
Work it!
Arians tend to demand instant gratification so you need to find an exercise you’ll really enjoy. Taking a spinning or boxercise class is ideal. Both exercises are tough and give an instant feeling of a hard workout.
Cancer
Ruled by your emotions, you’ve a habit of reaching for comfort food when you’re upset, so the idea of following a rigid caloriecontrolled diet is not attractive to you. Also, overweight Cancerians often spend years worrying about their size and shape without taking remedial action. One reason for this, is that you LOVE to feed yourself and others! Try switching from cakes to soup and keep a food diary for a week to see what you’re eating, why and when. That said, patience is the greatest Cancerian asset. So once you’ve committed to a diet and exercise programme, you’re very tenacious and tend to persevere until you’ve reached your goal.
Work it!
Cancerians can be quite insecure and want to be needed, so the ideal fitness routine for you is to work out with someone else. Circuit training with a friend would be brilliant for your sign, as would the latest craze in yoga which involves pairing up during the class.
Taurus
Because Taureans are one of the most cautious star signs and like everything to be predictable swimming and power walking are perfect
Down-to-earth Taureans are not attracted to fad diets or other weight loss gimmicks. Your methodical nature means that dieting comes easier to you than to other signs. However, typical Taureans tend to lose weight quite slowly, often because they have a slow metabolism and don’t really enjoy exercise. Given the chance you love to overindulge, so train yourself to say no to second helpings and eat regularly throughout the day as this will prove especially beneficial.
Work it!
Because you’re one of the most cautious star signs and like everything to be predictable, power walking and swimming are perfect for you as they’re safe. These workouts give no surprises and therefore don’t cause any unnecessary anxiety.
Gemini
Although Geminis tend to have a fast metabolism and burn calories quite quickly, this does not always guarantee success. This is due to your fickle nature, your impatience and occasionally your unrealistic expectations. Even so, Geminis have many positive qualities that help them to lose weight. Your optimism and love of change can inspire you to embrace the necessarylifestyle changes. You’re always so busy, busy, busy that you need to make time to create a routine. Eat three small meals a day with two snacks in-between to balance your bloodsugar levels. That should stop you reaching for sugary calorie-laden food. For best results, you should seek support to help you stay cool if, and when, weight loss slows down, and try to curb your natural tendency to want to weigh yourself every day!
Work it!
You’re flirty, curious and need stimulating which means you’re the perfect canditate for striptease and pole dancing classes. Rock climbing would also suit you perfectly as you can focus on your whole body while scaling those dizzy heights.
Leo
When it comes to losing weight, Leo’s greatest strengths can be their greatest weaknesses. For example, if things go well, your enthusiasm and desire to succeed can make weight loss easy. But if you encounter difficulties and fail to meet your own high standards, you often becomedespondent and quit. This is aggravated by the Leo desire for excitement, which increases your weakness for fad diets or other plans that promise ‘instant weight loss’. To combat this, it’s particularly important for Leos to choose a healthy diet programme that offers reliable weight loss, plus enough support to help you bounce back if you experience ‘bad days’ or even ‘bad weeks’.
Work it!
Leos love a bit of drama so ideal fitness choices for you are martial arts, which will help get rid of some of that pent-up aggression, and jazz dance. Both are quite dramatic, sociable activities and you need that extra bit of excitement that these activities provide in abundance.
Virgo
One of a Virgo’s key virtues is moderation, so it’s easy for you to cut back if you’ve overindulged. But, like Leos, some Virgo dieters can struggle to lose weight despite their positive qualities. On the one hand, you’re gifted with practicality and high standards, on the other, you expect too much of yourself, which can be your downfall. If you don’t lose weight fast enough, either you feel too miserable and quit, or else you cut corners, eat too little and end up bingeing. To overcome this, join a weight-loss support group which can help you to channel your energy and cope with occasional disappointments.
Work it!
You need to activities that engage your body AND mind. Work on your core stability with an aerobic class that uses a stability ball. You could also try mountain biking as riding over rough terrain requires concentration.
Libra
Librans tend to have a slow metabolism and can gain weight easily. This is aggravated by your laid-back attitude, dislike of exercise and sweet tooth! On the other hand, You seek perfection, which can benefit you greatly in your battle of the bulge. To kick-start your weight loss, you need to regrain your equilibrium. Why not learn how to cook healthy balanced lowcalorie meals on a cookery course – or buy a new recipe book? Once motivated, you adapt well to new routines. For best results, you should avoid being tempted by any plan that promise ‘effortless’ or ‘ultra-fast’ weight loss, and choose a more realistic programme.
Work it!
Body pump is a good workout routine for you because it’s all about lifting weights to perfect your body shape. You’ll try even harder as you see the changes.
Scorpio
Weight loss tends to be easier for Scorpios than any other star sign. This is because Scorpios are positive, well-organised, and determined and it’s this determination that means once you’ve set your mind on something, you usually achieve it. If you have a weakness, it’s your need to completely immerse yourself in the weight loss programme. So if sudden obstacles appear, which prevent you from giving it your all, you can quickly become restless and dissatisfied. Also, in an attempt to lose weight as fast as possible, you can overdo things. You may reduce calories too far, or take too much exercise. If you avoid these traps, you’ll typically achieve great success.
Work it!
As you’re the most private and power-crazy sign in the zodiac, which means you need energetic activities like running and also an environment like the gym where you can control exactly what you do.
Aquarius
You’re typically drawn to the mysterious, so initially you may be tempted by fad diets, supplements and food combining, but you’ll ruin your metabolism, so stick to a sensible diet instead. If this sounds boring, then ban carbs after 6pm – then at least you’ll still feel like you’re following a trend. The unpredictable nature of many Aquarians means you can flip from being a perfect dieter one day to a binge eater the next! Usually however, you end up choosing a more healthy diet, and because you tend to be optimistic and independent, you don’t quit easily. Even so, you need flexibility in your diet, as you do not like being pinned down.
Work it!
For best results, you need activities like badminton, tennis and circuit training to satisfy your eccentric and unpredictable personality.
Sagittarius
Thanks to your ruling planet, Jupiter, the planet of excess and abundance, you live life to the full. You’re quite capable of starting a new eating regime and a new job at the same time. But, as a result, despite great enthusiasm, you can’t give your eating habits the attention they need. Result? The wheels come off. For best results, limit your commitments, choose a diet which offers simple recipes and enough online support to help you overcome your periodic restlessness.
Work it!
A fun exercise programme, such as an aerobic dance class, is especially beneficial. You have a strong team spirit that should definitely be exploited to keep you fit. Ideal exercise would be to take up team-based games such as volleyball and hockey.
Capricorn
Capricorns are single-minded, well-organised and able to sacrifice everything to achieve your goals, and rarely have problems losing weight, provided they are motivated. However, you do not take advice easily, nor do you look for help, so if you experience problems – like a weight loss plateau, a sudden loss of motivation, or a weekend binge – you can find it difficult to recover. So for best results, aim to lose a pound a week. Accept that this is a long-term plan and not a quick fix and be more prepared to take advice and seek support. As far as specific plans are concerned, a practical diet with strict rules is ideal.
Work it!
As you’re rather inhibited, aqua aerobics and exercise DVDs are great for you because you’re not on show.
Pisces
Pisceans say one thing one moment, then do the complete opposite, so your eating habits don’t always match your good intentions! That said, you’re a good organiser and once you start healthy eating, you plan it well. Since you enjoy your food, you should choose a diet plan with plenty of variety. And for best effect, you should use your wonderful imagination to visualise how you’ll look when you reach your goal. Support is crucial as you’re easily distracted. One critical comment can destroy your motivation, so try using the power of your mind to think positively and raise your self-esteem.
Work it!
Pisceans can be emotional and incredibly empathetic, which is why pilates and yoga are perfect for you. Your natural fluidity makes you ideal for dance and ice skating, too.
Article by
Lisa Clark
Author
Lisa Clark is author of SASSY: The Go-For-It Girl’s Guide to Becoming Mistress of Your Destiny (£11.99, O books)
Discover more
Article by
Lisa Clark
Author
Lisa Clark is author of SASSY: The Go-For-It Girl’s Guide to Becoming Mistress of Your Destiny (£11.99, O books)
Discover more
By Lisa Clark
By Lisa Clark 
