I WANT TO SLIM, AND STAY SLIM

Dear Coleen

I’m a woman in my mid-30s and this might seem a trivial question compared to most you get, but I really want to lose weight in the New Year.

I’ve been a yo-yo dieter for years and now I want to nail it. I’m single and have only had one serious relationship, which ended badly when he dumped me for someone I’d known for many years. It took me a long time to get over the heartbreak.

I have lost a lot of weight in the past and felt great about myself, but I always put it back on.

I know you’ve struggled with weight issues in the past – have you any words of wisdom?

Coleen says

Yes, don’t do faddy diets to lose the weight quickly and don’t call it a diet, but make a commitment to getting healthier, eat better food and be more active.

It’s small lifestyle changes every day that will work in the long term, rather than an all-ornothing approach. So your mindset is really crucial if you want to lose weight and keep it off. Look at the rest of your life, too, and the emotional triggers that make you overeat – if you recognise those, you can be better prepared when you get cravings. Set yourself realistic goals and on days you mess up, don’t give yourself a hard time, just get back on it.

Personally, I think slimming clubs are really good because you get emotional and practical support, which helps keep you on track. Being a part of a community rather than struggling on your own can definitely make a difference. There are some really good apps now, too.

But most of all, do it for yourself and not for some bloke you haven’t yet met.

Any guy you end up with should love you because you’re a great person, and not just because you’re a size 10.