diets

Hello - Jane here, the practicals editor at that's life! I think the best diet for you depends on how much you want to lose and what your lifestyle is like. Generally speaking, cutting down saturated fats (like butter, cream, cheese, fatty meats, crisps) and getting some exercise you can fancy (like a brisk walk at lunchtime or a swim twice a week)should help to shift the pounds if you have lots to lose. But a lot of women find it helps to join a club like Slimming World or Weight watchers as you get support from other women. If you'd rather keep it to yourself, you could try an online diet which the supermarkets offer now. Keep an eye on our feature "Me and and Food' on the health pages each week as most of the stories are from women who struggled with weight loss but got there in the end. Other tips you could try are controlling your portion size, having a big glass of water instead of a snack, and eating slowly to give your tummy a chance to register that you are full up. Put your cutlery down between mouthfuls to help you eat more slowly. Have lots of fresh chopped veg/salad in the fridge so you can snack on those. And boring though it sounds, DO NOT HAVE BISCUITS CRISPS AND CAKES IN THE HOUSE! If they are there, you will eat them! Good luck - and get the family to support your efforts. Everyone will be healthier and have more energy. Let us know how you get on - we could even feature you on Me and My Food to inspire other readers. All the best - Jane

can i just add that im on a so called diet- healthy eating plan and i find that eating your meals on a kiddies plate or side plate helps because it cuts down your prtions but you still feel like your eating a full plate dinner.

My sister is on the weight watchers diet and has lost over 6 stone in weight so far with still a bit to go and all within a year. She loves going to her class and takes great pleasure in telling everyone how well (or not, as some weeks go) she is doing. She has tried other diets and groups before but didn't get on as well, but she now has a really good group and leader to turn to if she needs that special help that only they can offer. Her self confidence is rising at a great rate and as part of her family and friends I couldn't be prouder of her. In fact when she started I said that I'd start to lose the weight I need to shift when she got to my weight but she seems to be getting here just too quickly for my liking LOL!!! I will start soon, promise! At least in weight watchers if she feels like having a bar of chocolate or some crisps she can, as long as they are in her points. And something to help her through is having one semi-bad day a week then making sure to cover the points through the week. She is doing so brilliantly I'm sure she'll reach her goal before she knows it and be slimmer than me. Elana

i just wanted to say when i had my second child i weighed 17 stone and i started at weight watchers i loved it, i never felt hungry because you can eat any thing its not restricted on food. I had so many points and you can use them as you wish. Also they make some of their own yummy food and desserts. I lost seven stone im now 10 stone if i feel myself creeping up the scales again i just use the technique and i come back down again x good luck x