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"... I began having battles with my weight in my late 20's and have tried every diet going, slimmer's world, atkins, grapefruit & egg, meal replacement the list is endless. You name it I've tried it. I have, at the age of 50 discovered the best ever diet in the world!! The secret, don't diet!! Finally I've got a healthy relationship with food.

I worked as a receptionist for L A Fitness and hardly ever ventured towards the gym. In April I got told that my role would become redundant, and as I had taken a qualification in fitness, would I like to use it? Reluctantly I agreed. I decided that I couldn't be the oldest unfit fitness instructor and started taking a long hard look at my lifestyle. I made the switch there and then and just started eating foods that were fresh(anything that lasts more than a week on the shelf rarely gets eaten), use only olive oil for cooking and drastically cut down on my alcohol. I eat more now than I have ever eaten in my life, I have lost 3 stones since April, and I have to say hand on heart it has been so easy. No hunger pains!!

I would say planning helps, knowing that you have something in that you enjoy eating and you know isn't going to sabotage your weight loss plan is key. If you haven't got time to prepare something for breakfast (you are all eating breakfast aren't you!!) then get something ready the night before, boil an egg, pack something in the fridge, grab it to go, but whatever it is make sure it's not a cereal bar (sugar!!). 3 hours after breakfast I have a protein based snack, small handful of nuts (not honey roasted!). Don't have your standard sandwich for lunch (white bread is evil), take your own lunch, you know exactly what's in it. Again another snack mid afternoon, not a choc muffin & latte!! Then for your evening meal, lots of fish or chicken ect with tons of veg, side salad (jazz it up with balsamic vinegar or make your own dressing) in terms of the 'carb' part of your meal, be very conscious of how much you having, can you cut down on those potatoes or swap for sweet potato? White pasta & white rice, not good. Have you seen what it looks like in the pan the next day, picture that inside you!!

Ah now for the exercise bit. Well I have to say I'm not a huge fan of exercise, I didn't get to 12.5 stone for no reaso, but unfortunately it has to be done. Bite the bullet, find something that you like to do, start moving. I have to say now I am teaching spin (never saw that happening in a million years!!), when I see I have burnt off 600 kcals I am then reluctant to 'blow' that on a bottle of red wine, or some chocolate. Knowing that I can now run continuously for 20 mins (believe me I couldn't run a bath without getting out of breath), gives me such a thrill, knowing I have brought my blood pressure down from 140/90 to 110/60, knowing my resting heart rate is now above average, makes me feel so proud of myself. Oh I still have the occasional slip, but now, instead of beating myself up over being 'bad' (we're not bad, we're human), I think ok that's fine, move on. I've also started questioning, as I'm eating "am I full"? I realize that I ate far too much, and now slow down and eat less. I also have a sweet tooth (don't we all at some point), but again it's preparing for it. I make myself low sugar trifles, low sugar meringue nests. This way I know I can grab something out of the fridge eat something I have made (and know exactly what's in it) and have used damage limitation.

The great thing about the weight loss this time, is that because I haven't 'dieted' there's no end, this is how to live my life. My relationship with food is normal - finally!!

I started year facing redundancy, and finished it as team member of the year!! (out of 2500 employees) not bad for a 50year old, formerly very overweight woman!! ..."