This is part two of a series on how to lose weight for cricket.

In part one of the series we found out weight loss was nothing but a simple bit of maths. Less in and more out equals weight loss.

But if the physiology is simple, the psychology certainly isn't. Ask all those who have tried to lose weight and keep it off in the past. This article will show you a better way; without needing to rely on your willpower.

Why willpower doesn’t work

Most people who turn to willpower to lose weight (or make any long term change) fail. I know. I tried the willpower tactic many times over.

It fails because willpower is about restricting yourself without being accountable to anyone. Human nature dictates that as soon as you tell yourself you can't have something, it's all you want.

Weight loss can't be about punishing yourself. Not if it's going to work.

How to fool yourself into losing weight

Fortunately, the alternatives to willpower are many.

By far the best way to do it is to tell others you are trying. That's why weight loss clubs like Weight Watchers are so successful.

Now I'm not telling you to head to your nearest Fat Fighters with a handful of dust. But getting the support of friends, family or people on the internet has been shown to be the single biggest influence on success or failure.

It's all about being accountable to someone.

After that, you can take your pick of methods for getting your calories consumed down and your calories burned up. Here are some tricks that work well:

• Cut out cutting out. If you want to lose weight the natural inclination is to start cutting out the crisps, beer and cake. As we know, this is a recipe for failure. Don't be scared of eating 'unhealthy' foods now and again. Just keep it to the odd occasion.
• Eat more. I know we talked about reducing calories, but eating more of certain foods can mean you cut down your overall intake. Foods high in protein/fat/water content from natural sources fill you up more quickly and get burned off more effectively. Get some protein, healthy fat and non-starchy vegetable in at every meal to feel full but have an overall reduction in calories.
• Reconsider the carb. Generally, we eat too many starchy carbs (rice, pasta, potatoes, bread) too often. A good way to cut back without feeling restricted is to save these until after you have exercised and treat them as a reward. More on carb timing here.
• Do resistance training. Of all exercising, strength training is the best for weight loss. That's because it burns calories faster and longer than traditional aerobic work like jogging. It also increases your resting metabolism meaning you burn more calories at rest. If you are fit you can add some cardio work to the mix too, but always start with strength.

There are many more methods out there. Most of them work as long as you are burning more than you eat. The tough part is sticking to your plans in the long term, and that's where the above tricks excel.

For more on the psychology and physiology of weight loss, check out Dr. John Berardi's Precision Nutrition system. I have used the system for years and can recommend it without peer. It will last you a lifetime.