Advice for Johan

YOUmagazineSA Johan, you want someone to help you so you can use your legs again (YOU, 24 November)? Well, I’m that someone. I have a black belt in yo-yo dieting.

For a start, cut out sugar. It has a lifethreatening effect on you (and me!) and is highly addictive. Don’t substitute with artificial sweeteners. Fresh fruit is fine, but in moderation.

Never eat refined, processed, tinned, preserved food again – they all contain sugar (read the labels).

Don’t eat anything containing gluten – and avoid dairy. Have a bit of fatfree yoghurt or cottage cheese if you must.

Now the good part: you may eat as many fresh vegetables as you can – variety is key. Add lean chicken, fish (tuna in water once in a while in a salad), seeds, nuts, eggs and lean meat.

After a few weeks your body won’t crave junk because now it’s being fed the vital nutrients, minerals and vitamins that it has hungered for all this time. You’ll already feel so much more energised and optimistic.

Once you’re feeling better, add some exercise and have a 10-minute workout in bed maybe three times a day.

Get your mind off the couch even if your body isn’t yet able. Learn something new. Educate yourself, write your story. It’s time for you to deal with your issues. Try to see a therapist.

Schedule your day like a grown-up. Fill it with productive activities, every hour on the hour. Fill your days with interesting stuff you can do in bed, or you’ll die of boredom and self-pity and your brain, instead of your waistline, will shrink.

One last thing. One of the most frequently used cop-outs by the morbidly obese is, “I can’t afford healthy food.” Utter rubbish, I say! If you take the trouble to shop for fresh vegetables (or better still, grow them yourself) and prepare them from scratch, you save on all the junk food. But most importantly you save on trips to the doctor and on medication. GABI, EMAIL

SJohan, you must feel you have an insurmountable task. But instead of setting yourself unrealistic goals, set smaller ones. You’ll reach them faster and will feel a sense of accomplishment as you tick them off one after another. I know you can do it. Just believe in yourself. Good luck. CHERYL, HUMANSDORP I’m one of the winners of a stationery hamper. Thank you to YOU and Staedtler. DONNE HENDRY, SMS To Bookworm from Polokwane, I agree with you (YOU Say, 24 November). I’m an avid bookworm. To hold a real book in your hands is the only way to read. I also started at a young age with romance stories and when that got boring I went on to mystery and crime. I get my books from Loot and Takealot.com. READER, PINETOWN I have the worst in-laws. I call them the outlaws! JESSICA, SMS Chelsea’s so hot now their fans can’t even cool them down. SCOTT, SMS This time of year my beautiful garden is flooded with wretched snails. They eat away at all my beautiful plants and leave their slimy goo wherever they go. I’ve just about had it with them! CATHERINE WOODS, RUSTENBURG