I’m a chocoholic control freak

Dennie Smith, 57, runs a dating agency. She is married to Graham, 56, a printer, and they have four grown-up children. I never go over nine stone. If I reach 8st 13lb, I cut down on snacks for a few days or go for an extra dog walk. I’ve always been extremely controlled in the way I run my life and I treat my weight the same way.

every meal and drink has its exact time. I have a cup of green tea and a piece of chocolate at the same time every morning and afternoon, and once a year (as we drive to Cornwall for the family holiday) I indulge in a McDonald’s.

even during my four pregnancies I never gained more than 2st. After each birth, I ordered my friends and family not to give me chocolate gifts. I was back in my size 10 jeans within weeks.

I’m only human and I do allow myself the occasional splurge. Some days, I’ll eat a Cadbury’s Creme egg.

But I know I don’t want to be overweight, so I make sure to balance it out.

I don’t eat leftovers — the thought of eating reheated food makes me feel nauseous — and I never picked at the children’s food when they were little.

I don’t go to the gym or anything like that, but I love walking the dog and did a long charity walk last year.

I rarely get ill, which I’m sure helps in maintaining my weight. And having the same figure as I did in my 20s means that, even 30 years on, I still feel like exactly the same person I was.