Low fat, high omega-3 Weight gain: 3lb

NATALIE WHITE, 38, is a payroll clerk and lives in Lincoln with her husband Matthew, 35, an engineer, and their three children aged 17, six and two.

I DON’T have the fat gene variation linked to increased appetite, but the tests did show my body’s ability to burn fat is low and I’m predisposed to high cholesterol. So I was given a low fat diet which was high in omega 3 to keep my cholesterol in a good range. This has meant lots of rice, fish and chicken but no eggs — which I love.

I was allowed four slices of bread a day but this didn’t help to fill me up as the meal portions were very small, leaving me feeling hungry and dissatisfied.

This meant at weekends I’ve consistently fallen off the wagon, tucking into cheese and also takeaways.

I’ve also felt exhausted all the time, which I’m sure is down to the portion sizes.

Overall, this isn’t the diet for me and although I initially lost 10lb, it has crept back on. However, I am now a dress size smaller than when I started.

Long-term, I think calorie counting works better for me, as that way I can legitimately incorporate some of the naughty high fat foods that I often fancy.