DESPERATE MEASURES

How far would you go to shed the pounds before a weigh-in? Having sex, going to the toilet and removing every scrap of clothing, including hairbands and earrings, are some of the tactics slimmers use to lose last-minute weight, a survey by healthy eating plan Second Nature found. One quarter of those polled admitted to going to bed hungry the night before. ‘Weighing ourselves regularly in public, although motivating for some, can make us feel ashamed when we haven’t lost weight or have gained some. This can lead us to seek quick fixes,’ says nutritionist Tamara Willner. Instead of focussing solely on the number on the scales, you can track progress by taking other things into consideration too, such as body measurements (waist and arms), energy levels and sleep quality.