Consequently, I have decided to launch my own regime: the common sense regime. Now I accept no responsibility for any outcome and all I can offer by way of recommendation is that I haven't had a heart attack yet, although obviously there is still time. It has crossed my mind that the role of health guru could be a bit of a poisoned chalice considering how things turned out for the men who invented the Atkins diet and jogging but I am willing to give it a go.
First off, my regime is no good if you are looking to be supermodel thin. I'm afraid the only thing that will help you is a life of permanent food rationing. We all know people, I'm sure, who look fabulous but never eat. My own mother prides her self on being the same weight as when she married at eighteen but exists on salad and crackers and never ever has an off day. Where's the joy in that? My heart sinks every time I meet a luncheon companion, who announces they are on a diet because I know it will be some dreary, alcohol free, dessert free, dressing free borefest, where I am left wondering, what's the point?
Right, the rest of you, let's crack on. The first rule is never to get weighed. It's meaningless and is the road to madness. Whoever said that dieting makes you fat wasn't wrong but that's because it's an industry that needs to keep us fat in order to make money out of us. Slimming clubs and their brands of products would be redundant if they actually worked. I know extremely intelligent women who weigh themselves several times a day, plummeting into depression if their weight fluctuates in the wrong direction. It doesn't matter how many times you tell them it's not real, they are in the grip of those soul destroying weight scales so take my advice and get rid of them.
As far as food goes, my own philosophy is that I eat pretty much what I want until I feel as though I am bursting out of my clothes and then I stop. I cut back, maybe stop drinking alcohol for a while or just have the one chocolate biscuit instead of the whole pack. It doesn't matter, what matters is as soon as I am faced with the choice of going up a size or staying the same, I take action. This I believe is the key to the common sense diet. It doesn't matter how you do it but once you are faced with that choice, you make the decision which way you want to go and you act upon it; in whatever way works for you.
Exercise is also good but again it's a personal thing. I enjoy the gym, it gives me a chance to listen to my ipod and work on my writing ideas but, I know lots of people hate it. If you hate it, don't go - what's the point? See, it's common sense. Find something you do like doing be it walking, dancing, swimming, whatever; it doesn't have to be a big deal, surely any form of movement is better than none. The important thing is not to beat yourself up about it and do what you can.
The question you need to ask yourself is, are you happy with what you have and, if not, why not? Your motivation is what will help you stick to your decision. I am quite happy to admit that I am totally shallow and what motivates me is not health or being in control but clothes. I like clothes and the sad reality is, the bigger you are the less choices you have.That in itself keeps me at the size I am but you have to find your own motivation.
In a nutshell then, my regime is one where you decide what you want and then figure out the best way of getting there. Everybody is different and there is no right or wrong way. It's not a race and you have as long as you need to achieve your goals. What's the point of getting a bikini body in 6 weeks if 6 weeks after that you are back to square one. So throw those weight scales and diet books away and adopt the common sense approach.