Drop the fads, lose the flab

Why changing your lifestyle long term beats Bridget Jones’s flash-in-pan diets

Dolcis Clitheroe slide shoe, £16.99, getthelabel.com Cross over sandal, £45, Next Jette sandal, £65, Dune WE’RE a nation of Bridget Joneses obsessed with diets, according to new research.

Serial dieter Bridget logged her calorie intake in her diary and relied on big pants and yo-yo diets. And there are plenty like her who are always battling with their weight. Around 42 per cent of people have dieted in the past 12 months, according to research for budgeting account provider thinkmoney.

That adds up to 27million who’ve tried to slim down in the past year – and another 10million claim they’re always struggling with their weight.

But many people shed more pounds from their wallets than their waist. On average, people spend £280 in an effort to lose weight, with men spending £100 more than women.

The most popular ways include gym memberships, personal trainers, fitness DVDs and apps.

Slimming clubs and specialist diet plans still rank highly, as do equipment such as juicers and kitchen scales to weigh portions of food. And 10 per cent buy clothes in a smaller size as a motivation to lose weight.

Around 88 per cent of those questioned lost up to two stones, with men being more successful than women with their slimming.

More than half of people said they were happy with their weight loss and felt the money they spent was worthwhile. But 17 per cent were disappointed that they didn’t lose more weight and said they regretted shelling out so much on their diet. Nutritional therapist Naomi Mead says the problem is that a diet is generally viewed as a short-term goal to

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EDITED BY MELANIE HARVEY

PAMELA Moffat tried every fad diet going but it was only when she made a lifestyle change that she lost four stone.

The mum-of-one from Edinburgh, who works as a customer assistant at Tesco, weighed 13st 11-and a-half lbs and was a size 18.

But after joining Scottish Slimmers and changing her eating habits she dropped to 9st 11lbs and a dress size 10/12.

“I’ve tried lots of different diets over the years – soup diets, three day diets, milkshake diets – you name it but I always found it difficult to juggle healthy eating with work and looking after my daughter Amy on my own,” admitted Pamela.

A combination of comfort eating and convenience food meant Pamela, 42, had put on weight since her daughter Amy, now 11, was born.

Catching sight of her reflection in a shop window, Pamela was horrified and realised she had to do something about her weight gain. She joined Scottish Slimmers and switched to healthy eating.

Pamela said: “The first size I dropped in clothes was a great feeling and the compliments from friends and even customers was really amazing. I couldn’t be happier.” loss rather than a long-term change in habits.

“The word ‘diet’ also has many negative connotations and is often associated with restriction, hunger and deprivation,” she said.

“The goals people set are often unrealistic and unsustainable, which can often lead to a sense of frustration and failure, and consequentially a cycle of perpetual dieting.

“Encouraging long-term changes for their health, rather than short term changes in order to achieve a certain dress size, is key.”

Ian Williams, of thinkmoney, said: “We are bombarded with stories about rising obesity rates and advice on what we should and shouldn’t eat, so it’s not surprising that so many of us are obsessed with dieting.

“While eating well and exercising have enormous benefits, our message would be watch how much you are spending and look for some things you can do for free such as running and going for a long walk.” ● www.thinkmoney.co.uk