Take a break from dieting for better results

I HAVE been doing your 5:2 diet for a while and had roaring success – I’ve reversed my pre-diabetes and am a healthy weight; my clothes fit and I look better than ever. But my weight has plateaued and I can’t seem to lose any more. Why is this?

IT OFTEN takes the body time to adjust after losing a substantial amount of weight. Although having reached a perfectly healthy BMI, some people may wish to get their weight down further to keep them safely in the ‘healthy’ category - just in case they gain a few pounds.

Many find that after pausing the diet for a week, and then restarting it, weight loss resumes. Studies show that dieting breaks can be more effective than just ploughing on.

If, after three weeks, nothing has changed, take a longer break from dieting. Eat sensibly and healthily, but don’t obsess over calories. After this break, resume the diet. If you still see no change, then accept this new weight. Congratulate yourself and continue to eat healthy, balanced meals and do plenty of exercise. You have come so far – don’t allow yourself to put the

weight back on.

YOU have to buy a crazy number of ingredients to prepare your recipes. I am a vegetarian pensioner who can only afford a few things. Which are essential?

RATHER than buying everything, highlight the recipes you are most likely to cook and buy ingredients in bulk.

Get spices such as cumin, sumac and sweet paprika, which add instant flavour to meals. Always keep garlic handy for sauteeing or roasting – it also adds flavour to vegetables. Eggs and wholegrains such as pearl barley and buckwheat are versatile and cheap, and form the base of many recipes that can be found at bloodsugardiet.com.

Stock up on tins of chickpeas and dried lentils; they keep and are a perfect base for curries, stews and veggie burgers.