Your dog, your personal trainer

Studies show dog owners are more likely to exercise.

Even when I'm feeling lacklustre and bed feels like the only place in the world that makes sense for me to be, a glimpse of my dog is enough to get my arse out the door and pounding the pavement. He really is my best exercising buddy: no moaning, keeps me on my toes and has a bit of a laugh with it all.

What's more, according to experts, studies have identified that as a dog owner, I'm more likely to walk more, walk faster and enjoy an active lifestyle with my pooch in my life.

"I'm fascinated by what a great motivator dogs can be," said Dr Sandra McCune, co-editor of the book, The Health Benefits of Dog Walking for People and Pets.

According to McCune, an animal behaviorist based in Leicestershire, England, studies indicate that if you're a dog walker, you are more likely to meet the guidelines for daily activities.

Dogs are the reason behind 66 per cent, of the walks their owners take each week, according to a recent survey of more than 1,000 adults commissioned by pet food company Mars Petcare.

Experts estimate that 25 per cent of people with children and pets regularly visit parks and other outdoor spaces because of their dog.

"Personally, I have a Labrador," McCune said. "When it's dark, when it's raining, the dog needs a walk, every day."

She said dog walking also strengthens social and communal ties. "If people go out with a dog, they're more likely to have a conversation," she explained.


According to the poll some 44 per cent of dog owners aged 65 and older exercise on a weekly basis because of their dog.

"Dogs are strong drivers of social capital," said McCune, explaining that social capital is a sociological term which she defined as the value of all relationships.

"Dog ownership benefits the entire community," she said.


As workout partners, canines can offer energy, enthusiasm, and the social support so crucial to sticking with an exercise program, according to Shirley Archer, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.

"Dogs can provide that companionship," said Archer, a Florida-based fitness instructor. "Frisbee tossing, ball throwing, agility competitions, dog and human boot camps, are great opportunities to be active," she said. "But obedience training is a must."

She cautions that as living creatures dogs need to be taken care of.  "If they ride with you on a bicycle, they need to be trained to stay close," she said. "Keep them hydrated. Check their paws. Don't let them run right after they eat."

Laura Cartwright Hardy, a grandmother and full-time graduate student living in Little Rock, Arkansas, has two huge German Shepherds. "I've had big dogs since I was 20 and that's definitely been part of the reason I've always been fit," said Hardy, who started lifting weights in her 30s so she could carry 40-pound (18.14-kg) bags of dog food with ease.

"They certainly keep you honest about walking," she said. "Those big brown eyes make it impossible to say no." She added that every human walking partner she has had, except her sister and her husband, quit because she went too fast.

Benefit of exercising #182

... it makes you smarter! Check out this study in the New York Times.

Dance, dance, dance your way to weight loss

So I've booked myself in for a 10 week Middle Eastern dancing course at the local college. I'm aiming to shimmy away the calories with a spot of bellydancing.

If the effects of dancing were ever to be seen, you can always trust the Dancing With the Stars contestants. The latest pics from Kirstie Alley make good viewing! While she credits Organic Liaison with this great result, diet can't sculpt, nip and tuck!

Weigh in - Week 13 - Highs and lows...

So it's been a whopping six weeks since I last properly checked in. During this time we've had highs and lows but for the most part I think my weight's changed very little.  And even that is an overstatement! I think I've only shifted 6.5lbs in the past few weeks. Next weigh in is tomorrow and I'm hoping to increase my 1 stone 10lb weight loss that little bit further:

Start weight  :  19s 7.5 lb
Weight now  :  17s 12.0lb

I've had a good week these past few days, so I'm really hopeful that this week will see me get a little bit closer to the 2 stone mark (4.5lbs away) and my Club 10 goal (4lbs away).

The exercise has really been upped the last few weeks and I'm starting to feel myself being able to get more active as a result of the increased fitness. As well as my daily walks with the dog and laser tag I'm doing a Zumba session each week and an extra laser tag. During this past week I've reintroduced swimming and I've also started transforming every other dog walk into a dog run of 2 miles. Next week I'll aim to increase the dog walk to 2.5 miles of intervals (25m run, 25m walk).

This exercise has had a significant impact on my body's shape. Last week I took in my new measurements:

Bust            50                45              -5
Waist          51                45              -6
Hips           55                50              -5
Neck           16.5            15               -1.5
Left thigh    31.5            27.5            -4
Right thigh  31.5            28               -3.5


I'm still tracking my wrist and calf measurements but there haven't been any noticeable changes there!

That said, that's a loss of 25 inches in just three months of following Slimming World and focusing on my activity levels! I'm particularly impressed by the reduction in my thighs... incredible, isn't it?!?

Perhaps at the end of six months I'll post a before/after. I'm taking my time this time with the weight loss as I'm trying not to rush it and risk regaining, so I'm thinking that holding back is the best way to go!

Off to play some squash - will write more tomorrow after the weigh in!

17 Day Diet... Does it work?

Another diet, another gimmick... And guess what, this fad diet doesn't even pretend to live up to its name. Forget 17 days, this one needs a 51 day commitment!

Like most diet plans, the 17 day diet is about eating less, moving more... packaged up nicely and marketed by its USP - the 17-day cycles. Why, oh why, do they keep putting this stuff out. And - more importantly - why oh why do the public keep lapping it up???

Fear laced with confusion is my best bet! We all know - far too well - thanks to government health campaigns and the drugs companies - why need to keep trim: heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, etc (I could go on for days!). But when it comes to slimming down and finding the right path the marketeers are having a field day - if you pay them enough attention!

Sadly there isn't a glamorous way out of being overweight, obese or even morbidly obese (as am I!).  There are just two golden rules to losing weight: understand what foods contain in terms of nutrition (calories, sugars, fats) and keep your intake in check.  The old adage of eat less, move more isn't quite so.  Yes, eating less bad foods is a good thing, but surely you need to eat more good. And that old adage of moving more has been disproved by medical research at playing a key role in helping people lose weight. Of course, exercise helps keep weight gain at bay while delivering fitness benefits ( and cosmetic ones to boot)!



With so much confusion out there between good foods and bad foods, is it any wonder that we're facing an obesity epidemic while millions in the world starve?

Weigh in: Week 3 - Success!

Last night's weigh in went really well as I dropped a further 2.5 lbs. So my grand total in three weeks of following Slimming World is 10.5lbs. My goal for next week is 2lbs realistically, but how chuffed would I be if I managed to get my 1 stone? I'd be freakin' ecstatic.

So this week my main focus is continuing to stick with the programme... which isn't too difficult. Luckily my social life is almost exclusively activity-based which really helps!

One difficulty has cropped up. While gardening on Sunday I've damaged my pinky. I'm heading to minor injuries this afternoon to get it checked out - but I have a feeling it will mean no climbing tonight. I'm not 100 per cent sure how much I use my pinkie in climbing, so I might just have to give it a try while Sam's on the walls. I'll be there anyway, so I ought to make the most of it.

Whatever the case may be I'm sticking with my 30 minute dog walks each morning and two sessions of laser tag this week.  If I can't climb tonight I'll try and squeeze in a 30 min. swim tomorrow night to make up for it and/or take the dog on an evening walk tonight.

Exercise of the month: Spinning

I made a promise to myself that - like it or not - I would try out a new exercise/activity once a month. May's rock climbing test and June's laser tag are still going strong. But I can't just stop there!

Our local gym runs a specially discounted spinning class for Slimming World members. A fellow slimmer runs it and it is aimed at beginners and those just starting out with exercise.

I'm not sure whether it would have stopped me from going, but I must confess that I didn't know anything about spinning until I arrived at the class last night.

Designed to strengthen muscles in the leg, as well as the heart, Spinning is a real calorie burner. According to the Glamour calculator, I burned 993 calories during the 45 minute session if I count it as moderate or a whopping 1183 calories if it's considered intense. Anyone know the difference?

Either way I truly felt like I was dying for quite a while there! In fact, I must confess that those last seconds of the work out left me in absolute ecstasy as I knew I could get off the very uncomfortable seat.

Spinning is best summed up by two words: saddle and sore.  Apparently this goes with time and can be expected with any type of cycling. There are gel seat covers and even specialist cycling shorts with gel bum pads, but I'm told it can help keep you moving to feel that discomfort.

Suprisingly, I'm not in as much pain as I thought I might have been this morning. I had visions of crawling down the steps, hobbling, etc. Oddly the only bit where I'm aching is my shoulders as my instructor did some upper body work during the session.

So, what's the verdict? I'm perplexed as to why, but I think I will do this again. Anything which makes me feel like that really must be doing me a world of good. Not only in terms of shedding calories, either. Part of this endeavour is getting my heart fit, too, you know!  It's only going to be a once every other week kind of thing, but I think it will make a nice addition to my exercising choices.

Can laser tag help you lose weight?

Well if last night is anything to go by, then the answer is a resounding "YES!". 

Last night my son and I went to a parent and child session at the local laser tag centre.  Over the course of an hour we played three 15 minute games and I can't remember the last time I felt so good (or so sweaty!). And judging by today's aches and pains, I can safely say that we definitely got a good work out.

So how many calories do you burn playing laser tag? That, I'm not sure of - but I'm guessing it's similar to a fast paced game of basketball - more than 700 calories for someone who is 14 stone. At 19 stone, I'm guessing it must be about 900 - 1000 calories.

While it isn't a traditional exercise regime, it's fun. I think the worst thing about the exercises we 'should' do is that they might not necesarily appeal to us. So doing them only sets you up for failure in the long term. Instead, explore a range of activities and find the ones you like!

I'm turning my back on fitness classes for now with regular sessions scheduled for laser tag (Fridays), indoor rock climbing (Saturdays), swimming (when I can) and walking (daily). There may be some more additions, but that will do for now. With just the laser tag (900 plus calories) and the rock climbing (approx 900 calories for me) and the walking (approx 2000 per week), that's a one pound loss per week.

How are you tackling the exercise aspect of losing weight? Any new or unusual activities? Let me know!

Weight Watchers - Vent - The end?

It took time, but I eventually received a response to my concerns over the lack of Weight Watchers leaders and support available to those following the ProPoints programme. Let's just say it wasn't really the response I'd hoped for, but I'll give them their dues: at least they responded. That's more than I can say for any of their leaders!  This whole episode has been so tense and stressful as I really started out my week feeling in the zone for getting myself slimmer. I'm just glad to have it behind me, really.

Where do we go from here? It could be quite easy to simply keep myself on the slow and steady route. After all, losing 4 kg every six weeks (as I have done) could generate a weight loss of more than 50lbs this year alone. But then again there's every chance that it could not... and that's what this decision to join a programme is all about.

So last night I started looking into Slimming World - from talking to those who have been successful and those who haven't. I've decided on a meeting that is close enough for me to walk to and from and have had a quick chat with the leader who seems professional, supportive and knowledgable of the issues facing her members.

As I close the door on Weight Watchers, I'm seeing a new opportunity to succeed open. I know that the next few weeks will be a steep learning curve as I learn new habits, develop new skills and dream up new recipes which will aid my weight loss. It's terrifying, yet exciting. 

In the meantime, I'm carrying on my mainly healthy eating (although I did succumb to custard creams earlier) and exercising. My walking has been going well - since Monday I've done 3.5 hours and am hoping to do at least another 3.5 between tomorrow and Sunday. Seven hours a week sounds perfect to me.  Tonight I'll be heading back for some more rock climbing and this weekend I'm hoping to try out Zumba, go swimming and take in some canoeing.  I've also been looking into joining a boxing club for circuit training/anger management. [NB: After a week like this one, I really need it!]

Question: Does NLP help you lose weight?

Answer: We'll see very soon.

Now, if you'd asked me this question years ago I think my answer would be a firm 'no'. Of course I knew nothing of it - bar creepy men placing unwitting victims in embarrassing chicken-like trances.  Let's just call me an unwavering and proud skeptic.

Even when I read about the astonishing weight loss hypnotherapy success of Lily Allen, I dismissed it as poppycock. Now was that because I really did think that? Or is it because I wanted to?!?

But over the years I've realised just what a powerful tool the human brain can be. I'd bought hypnotherapy CDs and MP3s of the year, including the famous Paul McKenna "Make Yourself Thin", but I have to say it never really stuck...

Yet I perservered with the idea and decided that only face-to-face weight loss hypnotherapy would do. My biggest hurdle (after the cost) was navigating the idea that someone could plant any suggestion in my head...

Let's just say that it wasn't anything like that for me.  My NLP practitioner is 100% professional and a genuinely nice person who set me at ease almost instantly.  When you're in a trance-like state, you're always in control. After all, you're the creator of the solution. Your therapist just helps facilitate that. Crucially, you are always awake... but very relaxed!

Over the past few weeks I've learned a number of NLP techniques over a course of five sessions which has (and will continue to) helped me address much more than my weight issues. After all - whether I like to admit it or not - my weight is a symptom, rather than the problem itself. I can kid myself that fat people are jolly and all, but if they are I certainly haven't shared that experience.

It's a life-long journey and it's still early days, but we're certainly off to a very promising and exciting start!

Get fit? Get a dog!

Among the random stats in my head is one which crops up everytime I take my pet Nabrador out for a walk:

Dog owners walk - on average - 7 hours more than those who choose a canine-free life

So why are 55% of dogs obese? [Ed - And cat lovers, don't think that lets you off the hook. Some 53% of moggies are clinically obese!] And - on a selfish note - why am I still. Seven hours of walking alone with my dog would burn off a couple pounds a week! Of course - the answer lies in my lacksadaisical approach to dog walking... I wish it weren' true, but it is.

While I can't promise that I'm going to fit in one hour every day, I am going to make a concerted effort to get us out and about more often. Not only does it get us fit, but it gives old Barney a chance to catch up with friends, check out the ladies and give that tennis ball a good run for its money!

Thinking of getting fit with your dog? Check out Alison Sweeney's tips on taking positive steps! And, for the more daring, look into some human-dog sporting activities - like canine cross country!

Want to know more about the health benefits of walking the dog? Check this out:

Three weeks to change!

I am now halfway through week 2 and I can feel myself wavering. Call it impatience, call it irrationality. Whatever you call it, I'm having to garner all of my energies to stay positive and keep focused on the goal.  

It's all about making habits and those take time -as much as three weeks. And when you think about it, that's not a very big timeframe. Any pain involved is constricted to that initial 21 day period. This should not be news to me as over the past few years I have already set a few good ones in place which I can't see myself changing, such as:

• Swapped semi-skimmed milk for 0% fat varieties
• Swapping refined flours for unrefined varieties
• Removing excess salt and sugars from my general diet
• Eliminated sugary drinks

Of course, there's always room for change in my life - particularly where my diet is concerned. This week I've begun introducing activities into my schedule after a winterlong break.  My log so far (including plans for the rest of the week) is:

Saturday
90 min walk

Sunday
90 min gardening

Monday
30 min walk

Tuesday
30 min walk
30 min swim

Wednesday (TBC)
30 min walk
30 min swim

Thursday
30 min walk
30 min rock climb

Friday
30 min walk

It's only week one, but the goal is to walk at least 30 minutes per day and enjoy a range of activities that will help me lose and eventually keep the weight at bay.

How d'ya like them apples?

When you're overweight there's no hell quite like going to the doctor. So you can imagine how I felt when I heard that the doctor wanted to speak to me about my blood test results as my cholesterol was running high.

But sometimes it isn't like that, for one reason or another. It could be that the doctor preferred gentle encouragement, or maybe my new proactive approach to my weight meant that I dealt with the situation more confidently. Whatever the case may be, I left the doctors office aware of the situation and confident that I could get this problem under control.

The biggest ways of reducing cholesterol levels naturally are through changes to your diet and exercise. And dropping just 10% of your body weight can make a real difference. For me that means dropping 2 stone (28lbs) or reaching 17 s 9 (247lbs).  Although I know it's a rough road ahead, I'm feeling certain I can navigate it.

One interesting tidbit I found while looking for ways to reduce cholesterol was the power of eating apples. It seems the old adage "an apple a day" really carries some weight to it... and damned well beats eating prunes every day.  While prunes aren't awful, they aren't as lovely and socially acceptable as a nice, crunchy apple.

If you're looking for snacking inspiration, why not check this out?

Get fit? Get a dog!

Among the random stats in my head is one which crops up everytime I take my pet Nabrador out for a walk:

Dog owners walk - on average - 7 hours more than those who choose a canine-free life

So why are 55% of dogs obese? [Ed - And cat lovers, don't think that lets you off the hook. Some 53% of moggies are clinically obese!] And - on a selfish note - why am I still. Seven hours of walking alone with my dog would burn off a couple pounds a week! Of course - the answer lies in my lacksadaisical approach to dog walking... I wish it weren' true, but it is.

While I can't promise that I'm going to fit in one hour every day, I am going to make a concerted effort to get us out and about more often. Not only does it get us fit, but it gives old Barney a chance to catch up with friends, check out the ladies and give that tennis ball a good run for its money!

Thinking of getting fit with your dog? Check out Alison Sweeney's tips on taking positive steps! And, for the more daring, look into some human-dog sporting activities - like canine cross country!

Want to know more about the health benefits of walking the dog? Check this out:

60 minutes of daily exercise keeps weight gain at bay

Spending just an hour a day participating in moderate exercise could be enough to stave off weight gain, according to the latest study findings from America.

What is moderate exercise?

According to Dr I-Min Lee, the lead author of the study - which is reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association - "'Moderate intensity' means brisk walking, casual bicycling, ballroom dancing, playing with the grandchildren."


This type of exercise can be introduced easily and cheaply into one's day. The NHS, for example, suggest taking little steps. Try walking uphill, enjoy long strolls and walk to and from the shops. And that last one could save you pounds while you lose them, too. That makes good sense to me!

What do your waist size hold in store for you?

According to BBC News, it could be a premature death. This article is really harsh reading for me as my waist - while on the retreat - currently measures 43 inches.  Hopefully I won't be in the danger zone for much longer, though! I have to shrink my waist by about 4 more inches.

So, how am I going to do this? I'm totally addicted to the show Bulging Brides and love the results that Tommy Europe generates. It is about time that I work that core as it will make the greatest impact on my shape.  I've been sticking to the cardio since getting on this journey, albeit at a less-shredding pace.

With this in mind, I'm going to set a WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE to shrink myself by 3 inches on the bust, 3 on the waist and 3 on the hips by 23/09/10.  My new measurements - should I choose to accept them - will be:

Bust: 44
Waist: 39
Hips: 47

I'm hoping this will generate some big weight losses in that time, but I'm realistically hoping for a stone (14lbs). My new weight will be 17 stone 5 lbs (243lbs).

Third time's the charm?

Today I saw some photos a friend took of me at the weekend and I just lost it. If there's a rock bottom it's where I'm at now. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For when you hit bottom the only way to go is up.

So, more than two years have passed since I started this journey and where am I? Well, the last year has been filled with changes that have seen the scales climbing higher than they have for more than a decade. Have my weeks of dieting been in vain?


I've been doing a great deal of thinking in recent weeks about the weight issue - mainly as giving up smoking three months ago just pushed my weight up that little bit faster. Now, I've given up giving up smoking in the past due to weight gain. And you know what? It might stop you gaining more, but it certainly doesn't help you shed your added pounds.

So, I've been trying the nonchalant approach to my increased girth. It worked especially well in those pre-xmas weeks but it's wearing thin now. I think (and hope) that I am far enough along with quitting that I can now tackle the weight without undoing those painful early weeks of withdrawl.



Here's what I think about why my weight's on the up... and how I hope to sort it. To help me stick to it, I'm going to think of them as the Golden Rules.



1. If you can walk the distance, do it!

-- Since passing my driving test last April I have found myself lulled into choosing the car for all of my travel needs. Not only is it bad for my waistline, it's bad for my body generally, my son's health and the environment.

2. If you can't make the effort for yourself, don't let that ruin others' health

--My son and dog both deserve - and need - at least a 30 minute non-stop walk each day. Since starting work in June I have found myself arriving home and vegging out on the sofa each night. When the dog does get a 'walk' it tends to be a short one to the field nearby where I simply throw the ball repeatedly without working my legs at all.

3. Breathe in, breathe out and relax

--Rather than sitting at my desk at lunch time, I will endeavour to have at least a 15 minute walk each day to clear my head and destress.

4. Try something new!

-- There are more ways to exercise than aerobics. My hips and knees are particularly bad at the moment with the weight gain, so low impact alternatives will be given priority. But, each month I will attempt at least one new pursuit.

5. Go slow

--Rather than rely on the cooking delights of others who don't cook for you but for their bank balance, explore with food and enjoy the art of slow cooking. Handpicking all ingredients and growing them myself where possible adds a new dimension to the process while removing unnecessary sodium, preservatives and chemicals.

6. Spot the saboteur within

--Yes, I am my own worst enemy. Identifying the cues that lead to falling off the wagon and understanding their roots should kerb their impact on my waistline. Often my girth is directly related to how I'm feeling about my current relationship, workplace stresses or parenting abilities. The more shaky each of those areas look, the wider I grow. Perhaps I am trying to physically make myself appear stronger and sturdier when I'm feeling quite fragile... Or even trying to punish someone for not loving me in the way I need... A bowlful of food can quickly quiet any negative thoughts in the head. So, whatever those throughts, I think I need to deal with them once and for all and avoid shutting them down with a bite to eat.

7. Nourish yourself

--Choose foods that deal with specific problems within the body.

(NB: This one might require a visit to a nutritionist!)

8. Spoil yourself with kindness

--Chocolate and rich foods might make you feel temporarily good. But before indulging think of other ways to make yourself feel even better. How about a self-indulgent soak accompanied by a good back - or even a trashy magazine - in the bath?

9. Don't bottle up

--I am seen by some as a very patient person who just *doesn't* get angry. That's possibly because I shove chocolate or some other food stuff in my mouth at the first rise of the adrenalin. Rather than quash it with food, keep it in or lash out at anyone unlucky enough to be in the vicinity, I will blog. Writing is, for me, the best release as noone gets hurt and I guess I get to avoid conflicts.

10. You aren't the victim - you are the addict

--No one has forced this food into my mouth. But years of training have allowed me to develop an addictive relationship with food. After a binge I am often sat there in a dulled state - unable to function. It isn't a high - it doesn't feel good. It just doesn't let me feel anything AT ALL. Understanding this negative relationship with food and controlling its impact on your day-to-day life can only help you achieve more in life than ever before.

I used to say that the problem with my addiction was that I had to face food at every corner - whereas with cigarrettes you can give them up and avoid being around them forever. But, my problem isn't with all food... I think it's just the processed, high sugar, high fat offerings. And you know what, I CAN and WILL cut these out because it isn't anywhere as hard as I think it will be.

Other rules will, no doubt, be added in the weeks and months to come. But, there's a real pattern developing here. I think the only way to get on the wagon - and stay on - for good is increasing my activity levels and switching to a natural, homecooked diet. When it comes to food itself, I'm eating a more varied diet than before I started WW and still use low-fat substitutes where possible. I've just added things like chocs and takeaways into the mix...

So, watch this space... I believe it's the start of something fantastic!

Feeling bouncy!!

For the past few days, I've been playing, wobbling and falling off my gym ball. It's really good fun - I mean, what is there you could hate about it? I've been trawling the internet for video clips and exercises that can be done using the ball and I've come up with a few of interest.

Ask Men have some fantastic video clips which feature the only piece of gym equipment which has ever brought a smile to my face!


I have to confess an almost-morbid fixation with YouTube videos featuring the ball. For starters, I'm on the lookout for wobbles and falls...surely it can't just be me that has NO balance whatsoever. However, I must say that I am impressed with the level of fitness that can be gained in using the ball. What girl doesn't smile at the sight of a rippling 6-pack! Also, there's no ladylike way to put it, but like yoga's way of shifting emissions, the ball tends to be a noisy bit of fun - if you catch my drift (not literally, of course). Why I'm looking for wobbles and wind? Not sure - just would love to see someone having as much fun as me using it....Perhaps I'll post my own viddy sometime....then again, perhaps not!!

Let the battle commence

Crunches really haven't be working for me...the pain in my back is excruciating! So, you can imagine my joy when my Reebok Gym Ball with Pump and DVD. I opened that parcel like a kid at Christmas. Tomorrow I will have a go at the DVD, but quickly ran through some basic moves which were suggested in the accompanying book.

To be honest, I'm not sure who was more excited about the introduction of the gym ball into our household, my son or me... My quick play with it earlier today made me feel the burn, but it's bouncy nature makes me stick with it. Oh, and I've now tried sitting on it for a period of time - very hard work!! Am sat on it now - wobbling as I type at the keyboard!

Not sure whether this will shift the bulge more quickly than traditional crunches...but at least I'll be giggling while I attempt it...it's like a grown up space hopper!

Fidgeting!

Apparently, scientists at the Mayo Clinic in America have claimed that you can lose weight by exercising at work. An article on the BBC website describes one journalists attempt to work while at the gym - rather humorously!

While I wouldn't recommend physically doing office-bound work in a gym, it reminds me of something my ex-husband once told me. At 5'9" and never weighing more than 10 stone in his life, he revealed that the secret to being slim was being a 'fidgeter'. During our spell together, I must say that I never saw him doing anything physically exerting..well unless you count pressing buttons on a keyboard! Yet, he managed to keep a 30" waist and defined physique. Confused? Yes, so am I - particularly as his diet consisted of fry-ups and takeaways.

So...how does one develop this habit which was ground out of the majority of us at a tender age? It may seem odd but I've been working on this habit...weird trying to encourage a bad habit to take hold I must say! I've started shaking my legs and tapping my feet at every available moment! While I probably look like I'm suffering withdrawl...it could be worth it, couldn't it?

A 2005 Washington Post article seems to back up my ex's fitness claims. The Mayo Clinic conducted a detailed study of mundane bodily movements found that obese people tend to be much less fidgety than lean people and spend at least two hours more each day just sitting still. The extra motion by lean people is enough to burn about 350 extra calories a day, which could add up to 10 to 30 pounds a year, the researchers found.

James A Levine, who led the research published in the journal Science said: "There are these absolutely staggering differences between people who are lean and people who are obese. The amount of this low-grade activity is so substantial that it could, in and of itself, account for obesity quite easily."

So, maybe looking like an addict going cold turkey isn't so bad if it helps me not only get to my goal, but to stay there!