| Here's some ideas for you about how to sort out | | | | Trainers, who eat to live, I live to eat! |
| your food problems: | | | | - If you can't resist snacks like crisps and |
| Try keeping a food diary for 3 days, including a | | | | chocolate, simply don't have them in the house. |
| weekend day. Everything you eat and drink - | | | | The same applies to alcohol. When you find |
| EVERYTHING - goes on that list, together with | | | | yourself walking a mile to the shops in a |
| the quantity and the time of day. Also write down | | | | thunderstorm just to get some booze and a bag |
| how you felt - were you actually hungry? Or | | | | of Cheesy Wotsits, you're beyond any help I can |
| maybe just bored and a bit fed up? Did you eat | | | | give! |
| that slice of cake just because it happened to be | | | | - If you keep them in for the kids (do you really |
| there? Be honest - the Food Police aren't going to | | | | want them eating that rubbish??), have them in |
| come crashing through your kitchen window just | | | | just one cupboard. Buy a very small quantity once |
| because you've pigged out a bit!! | | | | a week, and when it's gone, it's gone. I find I'm |
| After the 3 days, have a good hard look at your | | | | reasonably safe as long as I keep away from |
| list. Can you see any pattern emerging? Do you | | | | that particular cupboard. When my daughter |
| skip breakfast every morning because you're too | | | | opens it to get her "ration", I can smell the |
| busy and then grab a latte and a Danish at 10am? | | | | chocolate from 3 rooms away!! (You think I'm |
| Do you gobble half a sandwich at your desk at | | | | joking??).As to the small amount you allow |
| 1.30, then succumb to the lure of that KitKat at 3 | | | | yourself, enjoy every mouthful. |
| because you feel faint with hunger? Then, when | | | | - Never allow yourself to get mega-hungry. Eat 3 |
| you get home, you're hungry enough to eat a | | | | or more SMALL meals a day and snack in |
| horse and chase the rider halfway to Paris. And | | | | between on a piece of fruit or a handful of dates |
| you're tired and probably stressed out. You just | | | | or similar. You should go no more than 3 - 4 |
| can't face cooking, so you order a takeaway, | | | | hours at the most without food. |
| succumb to a few glasses of wine and before | | | | - ALWAYS eat breakfast. Your mother was right! |
| you know it you're sitting on the sofa chomping | | | | It doesn't have to be complicated. Oatmeal |
| your way through a family - size bag of | | | | porridge with semi-skim milk, or wholewheat |
| Maltesers. Sounds familiar? Well, believe me, you | | | | toast, or just yoghurt with fruit if you can't face |
| are not alone! | | | | anything else. I have friends who take wholegrain |
| It's habits like these that you're trying to pinpoint. | | | | cereal, milk, bowl, the lot to work with them. |
| Sugary snacks and pastries add calories without | | | | - Plan your meals in advance and shop for what |
| nourishing you, and most takeaways are fat-laden | | | | you need. So that you've always got something |
| processed junk. You wake up next morning | | | | that's easy to put together for a healthy, tasty |
| feeling absolutely grotty, and it starts all over | | | | meal. Things like chicken breasts, pork fillet, |
| again! | | | | salmon steaks. Have a selection of veg in your |
| Your body is a machine. Cleverly designed and | | | | freezer; potatoes, rice (brown or Basmati), |
| perfectly engineered. And you only get one! This | | | | wholewheat pasta, and couscous in your pantry |
| wonderful machine deserves five-star fuel, surely? | | | | and you have the basis of several easy, healthy |
| You wouldn't run your precious new car on | | | | meals. Use spices and herbs for flavour as |
| poor-quality petrol, would you? So why do that to | | | | opposed to salt. Remember - if you eat as you |
| your infinitely-more-precious body?! | | | | should for 80% of the time, you can eat as you |
| Here are some ideas for changing your eating | | | | like for the rest. Trouble is, most of us do it the |
| habits to make them healthier. No, that doesn't | | | | other way around! |
| mean you should live on beansprouts and tofu. | | | | Happy munching. |
| Trust me - I love food. Unlike many Personal | | | | |