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.

Weigh in - success!

Three months in and I've now lost more than 25 lbs and 25 inches! At weigh in I reported a weight loss of 2.5lbs.

Things feel like they're moving again with my weight loss... I'm really hoping that this is the start of a purple patch where the weight loss, diet and exercise really start falling into place.

In the short-term, I'm looking for a weight loss of at least 2lbs next week. This will gain me my club 10 (10% body weight loss) and my 2 stone certificate. In the longer term I am shooting for a weight of no more than 16 s 7lbs by 28 November.  That gives me 9 weeks to shed 1 stone 2.5lbs and along the way that will see me pass the 2 stone, 2 1/2 stone and 3 stone marks. This weight loss goal will also ensure that I am at (or below) my pre-giving-up-smoking weight on 2nd December. That will mark 3 years off the cigarrettes.

Does the Lighter Life diet work?

In a nutshell, yes, Lighter Life does work. Anything that low in calories is bound to shed pounds... even without exercise. Of course you didn't ask for how long it works...

One can't help but be impressed by the recent before and after pictures of actress Pauline Quirk. She's lost a whopping 6 stone (84lbs) in just 6 months by following the strict liquid diet regime. How long she keeps this svelte silhouette will depend on how much Lighter Life has taught her about healthy eating, moderation and fitness.

A few years back I must confess that I did get in touch with  LL representative to find out more. After all, when you want rid of something - particularly weight - you want it done quickly...at all costs. For me, the costs were prohibitive as I was knowingly aware that I'd most likely have to keep repeating the plan over and over for long term success.

While I congratulate Pauline on her hard work and weight loss success story and wish her the best at sustaining her new figure, I can't help but think we'll see a much curvier Pauline reappearing in the next year or two.

Over the past week I've been thinking about my weight loss so far, particularly my 1.5 lb loss over the past week. I'd be a liar if I said I didn't want all the weight gone now or if I thought it was all going so much slower than it went on Atkins Diet, the Cabbage Soup Diet, Weight Watchers or any of the other diets I have tried over the years. 

But that's my emotions going into overdrive. Removing them from the equation, I can see that each pound I'm losing is one which I am weighing bye-bye to forever. I don't ever want to creep into the 19 stones again just as I am sure that - in a few weeks - I'm never going to want to creep into the 18 stones again. While I'm here though, I'll enjoy the ride and the slow descent into health.

Yes, I'm eating less but I'm also not living in denial (I had cookies today!!) and I'm actually enjoying exercise. I never thought I could say that when I was trying to lose weight.

Tomorrow is weigh in and I'm really quite keenly pursuing that 1 stone award. It would really mean a lot to get that now. But if I don't, that's ok as I know I tried and - more importantly - I won't have gained - rebound weight or otherwise.

Does magical thinking help people lose weight?

Finding it difficult to cope with the stress and strain of being overweight and dieting? According to Canadian researchers you might just benefit from "magical thinking".

This is the belief that something out there is on your side, rooting for you and aiding you in your weight loss. It's that hope and faith that could just inspire you to reach that seemingly impossible goal.

Through interviews, memoirs and weight loss blogs, HEC Montreal marketing professor Yannik St James undertook a study which analysed how dieters used this magical thinking in their slimming efforts.

So, can you? Well, you just might be already. I know I am! Food does indeed 'seduce' me and my body 'works against me' all the time! And through it all I remain not only hopeful, but confident that I WILL get there... and so will YOU.

 

A new beginning

The months/years of hemming and hawing since I gave up smoking (nearly 3 years ago!) are over, I hope. After a really good chat with my practice's weight loss nurse, I've decided to go back to Weight Watchers - for good. While I've made decent swaps and am exercising more, I think that is what's needed to maintain a weight loss - rather than make a significant change quickly. My appreciation of portion control can be a bit lax...

That said, she did tell me that I was 9lbs lighter than I was 6 weeks ago - prior to going away and packing on a few pounds. So I'm happy but - more importantly - I'm feeling in the zone.

These past couple of years have made me realise that I leaned on one addiction (smoking) to cope with the weight. You know how they say smoking makes you thin? It did, I guess, but its draw (pun intended) was never strong enough to beat out food. At least I did away with one of the demons and I've managed to keep my weight from topping 20 stone... Thank god I get aches and puffed out! Without these physical signs, I just might have kept eating my way through to much, much more.

Whatever happens tomorrow, today I feel like everything has come together and I have to admit that I'm having more days like this than I'm not.

Scales differ from place to place, so will be interesting to register and log my weight. I've not done ProPoints, so it should be a fresh, new start for me. From what I understand you get a zillion or so...

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!

May the weight loss be with you

Carrie Fisher is the latest celeb to credit Jenny Craig for her weight loss. 

Despite my own bad experiences on the programme some 20 years ago, I have to say it looks and sounds like it's done her a world of good. In just 18 weeks she's slimmed her 5'1" frame from 180lbs to 150lbs... and that's just a start.

It's no wonder why. She revealed: "I used to feel like I had to apologize for the way I looked whenever I stepped out of the house...I spent so much energy coming up with reasons why I was overweight.

"Now, whenever someone compliments me, I smile and say, ‘well, thank you.' It's a great feeling to feel like myself again, and that I am truly worthy of those compliments.

"I no longer want to hide in the house," she adds.

I've had a taste of that freedom in the past and it's one that should be savoured, cherished and - most importantly - protected.

But, it's easy to take these feelings for granted and allow temptations to get in the way of weeks, months and years of hard work. 

It's still early days for me, but I think it's worth thinking about.  My first milestone, I'm sure, will bring with it the first wave of freedom - and it's only 19lbs away.

On the 344 pounds blog there are lots of great ideas to inspire and sustain weight loss (and maintenance!) momentum.  His is a truly inspiring story and he's done it without fads or gimmicks. I've only started looking through the entries, but I like the idea of regularly posting pre-weight loss pics and reminding yourself of the real benefits of losing weight.

Stars go goo goo over the baby food diet

Chery Cole is the latest celeb being linked to the baby food diet plan. Developed by trainer to the stars, Tracy Anderson, this detox plan is rumoured to have helped Jennifer Aniston shed 7lbs in just one week.  Jen, however, has denied turning to baby foods in the past, saying that the last time she ate the stuff was when she was "one".

The plan consists of 14 portions of puree a day, followed by an adult, healthy meal in the evenings.  Its creator told Hollyscoop.com: "I developed a cleanse where you can still eat and it's a lot of puree foods. I was very careful about the foods I chose to put in it. 

"When you do these liquid cleanses I felt a responsibility to come up with something. Liquid cleanses do help you lose weight but you will gain more the next week. I wanted something where you can eliminate toxicity, break bad habits but still have your digestive system going. That is when the baby food cleanse was born."

While there's no doubting that this diet is a short-term solution, there could be lessons to be learned here. It's a reminder of the importance of two things: portion control and the power of wholesome fruit and veg.  Keeping your food servings small and your ingredients healthy are key to losing weight and - importantly - sustaining it!

Biggest Loser's Bob Harper takes the hard line on weight loss

Forget unicorns and fairies, kids. There's no such thing as plateaus, either. According to the Biggest Loser's Bob Harper - speaking at a corporate event - it's a sign that you're not quite completely committed to making the changes needed.

He suggests kickstarting the metabolism every day by drinking a full glass of water upon waking - followed by breakfast within a half-hour. Your metabolism slows down over the course of the day, so a mid-afternoon workout can boost this. And when you get home? Make sure its protein and veggies only.

Confidence is important. He explains: "Weight loss is about a lifestyle change, he said. But you have to believe in yourself and trust the process."


“You’re gonna mess up. We all do,” he said. “But you get to start over.”

Sleep is the slimmer's friend

Missing just one night of sleep can slow your metabolism's performance the next day by 5 per cent according to a European study.

Looking at the sleeping habits of 14 young men, researchers found that missing a single night's sleep reduced the number of  calories spent on basic functions, such as digesting and breathing by 5 per cent when compared with the morning after a good eight hour sleep.


The Swedish researchers suggest that sleeping for eight hours each  of sleep per night might even prevent weight gain.

Christian Benedict writes: "Our findings show that one night of sleep deprivation acutely reduces energy expenditure in healthy men, which suggests sleep contributes to the acute regulation of daytime energy expenditure in humans."



While this isn't news to me, it's something that's quite easy to forget - especially when you've been missing some sleep!  Let's just say it's an early night for me today. 

P.S. Another interesting sleep/weight loss study can be found on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's Sleep Education blog.

Why gastric band surgery isn't right for me... right now.

I would be a liar if I said I'd never considered gastric band surgery... but when I read stories of gastric band complications which result in fatalities, I'm reminded of how some 'get thin quick' plans can come at a high cost.

Don't get me wrong, I've heard plenty of success stories of how gastric bands and bypasses change lives, but I hear far too many where it hasn't quite gone as plan.

In most of these cases, the problems have arisen as a result of poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. I've even heard a case of someone who managed to gain weight on a band!  If I were to go down this route in the future, I'd want to be well-prepared and in the right mindset. Take post-bariatric diets, for example. Would you know what types of food you could or couldn't eat? And what about vitamins?

For now I will stick to the eat less and move more plan. Ok, so it's not exciting and it certainly won't lose you all of your excess weight in a matter of weeks - but it comes with no strings attached. And, guess what? I will be able to enjoy normal foods (in moderately sized portions, of course), engage in normal activities and I'll know that it's my blood, sweat and tears that helped me get to the final goal. 

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 "I can make your 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:

Jenny Craig tops Consumer Reports diet plan review

Wondering which diet to sign up for? Weight Watchers? Slim-Fast? 

Well, according to Consumer Reports pre-packaged diet plan Jenny Craig might be a good bet.  The latest research indicates that - after 2 years - 92% of those following Jenny Craig diets are still following the programme.

With food plans priced at approximately $200 per week it must be good... Of course the same study found that participants - on average - were just 8% lighter after two years. That means that every 1% loss equates to a whopping $2600!!

While maintaining any loss is better than a gain, I long for a diet plan that sees you losing (and keeping off) the pounds - not your wallet!

How to drop a dress size in 5 days

Why is it that when we diet, all senses of reality go out the window? Maybe it's the instant gratification culture we live in or food colours inducing ADHD, but we just can't seem to wrap our head around long-term, slow paced healthy options which deliver lifelong rewards?!?

But who I am to comment - my first thoughts when I saw this article were: "Really?!? You mean with one diet I can drop a whole dress size in just five days?"

Of course, the real world set in as I started reading. It's like navigating a sea of caveats, such as:

What are the drawbacks?

It's a quick fix not a long-term solution so you could put back on any weight you lose after the plan.

When we switch into desperation mode it's so difficult to switch off the idea of a crash diet... They offer a short-term fix and the promise that you'll look that bit slimmer, feel more confident, etc on your big night!

But isn't that why - on the eighth day - God invented Spanx?

There's a ton of research out there which identifies the pitfalls of 'get thin quick' crash diets - but I don't need a lab coat to tell you that just as you didn't gain a dress size in five days, you most likely won't lose one in such a short time. 

Of course there are those who will prove me wrong. To them, I give a salute. You've made the ultimate sacrifice to the dieting Gods, succeeding where most of us fail...

But, I have to ask, is it really worth it for a night or two?

  

  

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!

Humiliation: The key to weight loss?

Put down the cereal bowl, ladies.  That two bowls a day is so last month. Tweet What You Eat is the net's latest diet craze. Forget maple syrup, low GI and baby food, this Twitter-based food and weight diary is the must-have this year for any discerning diet junkie.

Rather than restrict your food with insane rules, the diet programme is said to encourage healthy eating and exercise with the threat of humiliation - albeit self-humiliation.

For many of us our weight is a personal and often emotional issue. So, is humiliation the answer? And, if so, should it come from ourselves? Weight and health awareness is crucial, but I'm not sure that this is the perfect way forward.

A scan of sample diets on the site isn't great reading.... Dunkin Donuts... McDonalds... cookies and milk. And that's the bulk of some people's diets. The focus is on the calorie count, rather than the fat and sugar levels.  From this angle, it seems like a quick fix and a diet that definitely hasn't been designed by anyone with a long-term weight issue.

The idea of self-humiliation is enough to send me reaching for the Krispy Kremes. There's every likelihood that this could prolong the vicious cycle of gains and losses for participants. After all, low self esteem is often the best way to work up an appetite.

While I do post my weight on a regular(ish) basis on this blog, I'm doing so to illustrate my journey rather than just try to force myself to lose weight by putting it out in the public forum.  If posting your weight was enough to force you to lose weight, all of us weight loss bloggers would be writing our happily ever afters by now.

Want to get started? Check out this book...

Weight loss reduces urinary incontinence

Never has there been a better reason to finally lose weight... British researchers have discovered that even a minimal amount of weight loss can reduce the severity of urinary incontinence. Over half of study participants who lost weight over an 18-month period following a calorie-restricted diet  reported a signnificant improvement in the state of their urinary health. What's more, if you've never ever had the experience of urinary incontinence, reducing your weight has been shown to reduce the risk of you suffering from this problem.

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!

Weigh In - Week one (Mark II)

Hopped on the scales feeling slightly nervous this evening. You see, I have had a few hiccups this week...Fortunately the gods of dieting were on my side and I registered a loss of 6lbs. Of course, I am pleased with the results. However, I do know that if I managed several social situations a bit better I would have possibly seen a larger loss.

Take Saturday for example. I went to the cinema with the best of intentions. I saved a few points for a snack and a diet soft drink. Unfortunately I chose a snack that required incredibly strict willpower - of which I had none... I opted for the massive bag of Maltesers which weighed in at a whopping 16 points. I planned to simply eat the equivalent of a small bag's worth which only costs 3.5 points and pass it on to the others. Hearing the reply 'no thanks' to my offer left me perplexed...and reaching into the bag.

The funniest bit of this is that I really didn't even want a sweet snack. I longed for the ultimate movie treat - popcorn. And guess what? I found out yesterday that a small bag of salty goodness is only 3.5 points....

So, I guess this is just one of many lessons that I will learn that fall into the book of 'Point before you eat'!