Now before you say, "Ah, but I lost three stone on the cut out everything you enjoy diet", just consider whether you put it all back on again, and more, once you stopped. Or maybe, you haven't stopped and are still consciously thinking about, and cutting out, certain things from your daily diet.

How boring!

Of course there are certain foods, which really are junk foods and do you no good at all, but some of these fad diets are quite ridiculous. If you really think about it, the manufacturers of the diet products don't actually want you to lose weight anyway otherwise they'd lose their market. Weight loss or gain is big business.

Whilst we may not like to hear it, we are all the result of our own actions. Unless we have some medical problem, anyone who is overweight or underweight is that way because of what, how and when they eat, and that includes me and YOU!

We were all born with a perfect weight control. It is known as "appetite". If you've ever tried to feed a baby you'll know how difficult it is to overfeed him or her. Too much and they'll either close their little mouths up tight, turn their heads to the side, or bring the milk straight back up again.

It's only as we get older and learn to associate food with love and socialising that problems arise. Somewhere along the way, instead of stopping when we are full, as all wild animals do, we force the food into our stomach and that stretches to accommodate it.

Why do we do that? Well, it probably starts when we are very small and we hear things like, "If you don't clean your plate up you can't have dessert", r, "Don't waste food, it's too expensive", or "I've spent hours cooking that", or "There are thousands of people starving in the world so you ought to be grateful". I'm sure you get the picture.

Anyway, whatever the reason, most of us end up eating more than we need especially if we don't eat consciously.

How many of you have eaten whilst reading a book, sitting at a computer, watching a film, or nibbled whilst preparing a meal? Do you actually remember what the food tasted like, or even eating it? I know sometimes I've looked at an empty plate and wondered where the food had gone. How about you?

Then there's Christmas, Birthdays and Anniversaries. Come on now, how many of you have over eaten then? I know I have and regretted it afterwards. It's as if we all think we have to gorge ourselves on these occasions because we don't see that type of food very often and want to make the most of it. However, if we knew we could eat the same sort of food every day, I'm sure we wouldn't bother.

Restriction and deprivation create desire and cravings, which is why most diets don't work in the long run. Your body knows what it wants and needs. If you give it a bit of everything you enjoy; eat slowly, sensibly and consciously, there should be no need for "diets".

Also you have to be realistic. Everyone has their own body shape and bone structure so it's no good losing weight in the hope you'll look like someone else. You won't.

No matter how many pounds I shed, my legs will never be four inches longer and I will forever be known as "shorta..e", which I take as a term of endearment.

If you get to the weight your body feels comfortable with you'll look as good as YOU possibly can. However, you do need to exercise to keep your bones strong and your blood-pumping round to bring much needed oxygen to all your organs. You'll look and feel better for it. It's no good just being your ideal weight

if you're not fit and healthy too.