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Weight Loss Diets

I swear it appeared overnight. That spare tyre around my middle was not there when I was thirty-four. But on my thirty-fifth birthday I saw it hanging over my jeans.

I tried holding my tummy in. I tried walking taller. I tried on a different pair of jeans. But there it sat, like a hideous unwanted gift that you haven't got the receipt for, so can't take back. I knew perfectly well how it had got there though. Despite being a regular exerciser, I was also a big eater. As well as consuming large portions of food, I had, and still have actually, a Very Sweet Tooth, so I'd have lots of sweet things as snacks too. At some point, the calories in must have overtaken the calories out, which is how I, and in fact how anyone, puts on weight. Yes, there may be other reasons (medications and medical conditions for example) but mostly you gain weight because you eat too much and don't move enough. So, the solution is quite obviously to eat less and move more. But of course that's easier said than done. Still, there's plenty of help out there. Isn't there?

Does the world really need another diet book I asked myself when I first spoke to Infinite Ideas. If it didn't, we decided, we'd all be slim, healthy and happy, because all those other diet books would have answered our questions, given us all the advice and tips we need and the motivation and success tools to help us lose weight and, importantly, keep it off. So, what's different about this book? First, there's the fabulous format. The chapters, or ideas, as we prefer to call them, are nice, manageable chunks, that are self-contained, yet link to other ideas. Each also has a section that answers the questions you might have on a given subject. This format means you can dip in and out as you please, though if you want to read the whole book in one go, do feel free.

Content-wise, rather than being the sort of diet book that tells you to have 50 g of pineapple for lunch, or to do fifty press ups before breakfast, you'll find that this is a more holistic guide to losing weight. It deals with motivation, body shape, healthy eating, decoding food labels, fitness and examines popular diets and much more! In short, it's packed with everything that could possibly be relevant to you and losing weight.

Throughout the book, you'll find some recurring themes, which I think are the key issues of successful weight loss. And because they're key issues, I'm going to tell you what they are here (but I hope you still read the rest of the book).

Diets are not something to be jumped on and off like buses. That's why most diets don't work. A special diet may be fine (unless you get really bored by day three) until you go back to eating normally and then you pile the pounds back on. The only way to lose weight permanently is to change your eating habits for good. That doesn't mean denial either (most diets are about denial by the way) - it's about eating healthily, consuming a variety of foods, some in moderation and keeping a check on your portion sizes. Small changes and a long-term view are more successful than short-term bursts of enthusiasm.

Physical activity is a must. That doesn't mean that you have to work out at a gym with muscle-bound Vin Diesel look-alikes every night of the week. But what it does mean is getting at least half an hour's moderate exercise five times a week. It could be gym-based, studio classes, sports, dancing, running, walking - anything really to get your heart rate up and work those muscles. As well as burning up calories and toning your body, exercise has so many health benefits, it's worth making time for it. And if you have kids, make activity part of their lives too, for fun, but also for their future health and wellbeing.

Realistic goals are essential for motivation and success. There are tools in this book to help you work out whether you really are overweight and by how much. But it's important to be realistic in your goals. A small, apple-shaped person can never be a tall pear-shaped person and vice versa. Aim to be in the best possible shape you can be. If you set yourself achievable targets you'll get there. Goals that are impossible to reach just make you miserable. Equally, be realistic about the speed at which you'll lose weight. Crash diets (which are faddy diets or very low calorie ones) cause rapid weight loss, but it's mostly water and lean tissue, rather than fat. Eating sensibly and losing just a pound or two a week is preferable - it's easier for one thing, not to mention healthier for your body and most important of all is sustainable, i.e. you won't suddenly return to your former weight the minute you so much as look at a doughnut. Remember, the tortoise won the race, not the hare!

So those are the big learning points, but this book gives you all the knowledge, tips and ideas you'll need in bite-sized chunks that will get you to where you want to be. And if there's one other suggestion I could make, it's cook, or learn to cook! Most experts now agree that part of our burgeoning obesity problem is due to the fact that we rely on junk food, takeaways and processed, ready-made meals. Home-made food tends to be lower in fat, salt and sugar (and of course contains fewer additives). I found myself agreeing with Prince Charles recently, who was saying how he thought domestic science should be reintroduced to schools. Most kids I know don't have a clue how to boil an egg. In fact, lots of grown ups I know don't know how to boil an egg! The truth is it takes the same amount of time to whip up a tasty, healthy, weight-loss-friendly meal as it does to reheat a ready meal or get a takeaway. The price isn't that different either. The only difference is to your waistline. Do you think the world could use another cookbook?

Here's to your success!

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