Well the simple answer is because it just feels wonderful. But here are the scientific, physical and mental benefits you get from walking. 

Walking for an hour at 3mph burns about 300kcals for an 11 stone person, so if you tackled a 6½ mile walk, you’d burn off 650kcals which is roughly the equivalent of three pints of beer, a regular sized roast beef dinner or 1½ regular apple pie portions with custard. Mmm ....source www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Q I had a baby a year ago and I’ve still got a flabby belly. I started eating healthily, but nothing’s changed. It’s getting me down. Is there anything I can do to lose weight and tone up that fits in with motherhood?

A Kristoph Thompson says: Don’t despair – it can take time to lose the last of the baby weight. Firstly, look at the amount of calories you consume. Keep a food diary and use an online database, such as www.weightlossresources.co.uk to determine how many calories you’re eating.

Decide whether you prefer to embark on your weight-loss journey on your own or with others.

If you prefer going it alone, then check out websites such as www.weightlossresources.co.uk providing great online support.

‘To shift 1lb of body fat, you need to lose approximately 3,500 calories which over a week amounts to just 500 calories a day,’ says dietitian Juliette Kellow.

‘Make little changes to your diet and still enjoy your food – cutting 500 calories can be as simple as switching a thick creamy chicken soup for a healthier vegetable one or topping your jacket potato with low fat cottage cheese rather than Cheddar cheese.’ For more easy food swaps you can try at home today. Visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk

I come from a big family. And when I say big, I don’t mean there’s lots of us. I mean cluddy curves and pretty common.

But at 5ft 4, my 13st 13lb curves were more flab than fab.

I’d put on weight 10 years ago, was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries and endometriosis.

I had a hysterectomy, but losing the weight felt like a mountain I couldn’t climb.

When I got to 50, I was fed up with being overweight, so I joined Weight Loss Resources.

I started to count calories, and slowly the weight came off. It’s taken me 2½ years to lose 4st 5lbs, but it’s completely changed my life.

I use the online WLR food and exercise diary and check into the forum, where I’ve made lots of friends.

I was a size 20 but now I walk two miles to work after I’ve done 45 minutes of exercise at home!

I know I’m 52 but I feel 20 years younger.

Marie Keates, 52, Southampton

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

The Scales Kept Katie on Track

Don’t stop weighing out your food. If you’re anything like me, portion sizes will drift – usually upwards! If you keep a close eye on the weight and size of your portions, even when you’ve reached your goal weight, it helps you stay there!

Kate Driskell, 38, from London, lost 5st in 11 months in 2006 with www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Weight Loss Resources.

Yes, obviously it does what it says on the tin, but it also has lots of sensible advice from dietitians, so if you really want to embark on the Atkins diet, read this first - as well as info on fibre, your metabolism and almost anything else you can think of.

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

You can enjoy your holiday and lose weight. Just make a few clever swaps. The swaps in this feature were supplied by Weight Loss Resources (www.weightlossresources.co.uk). We also like the Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible 2011 by Juliette Kellow, Lyndel Costain and Laurence Beeken.

As scientists discover long periods in a desk job can double the risk of cancer, Kate Hilpern has five tips to get you moving

Housework is an excellent opportunity to tone and strengthen muscles and get the heart pumping, says Juliette Kellow, dietitian and adviser to Weight Loss Resources. You will need to maximise the effort involved. If you’re loading or unloading the dishwasher, for instance, don’t bend over repetitively, squat repetitively instead. Even for 30 seconds, this will give your thigh muscles and buttocks a workout.

Repetitive reaching up or over to the side can strengthen your core muscles too.

The trick is not to move your whole body when reaching, only use your arms while holding your stomach muscles tight. Be sure to space out your chores if you want to counteract long periods of sitting down. “Be more creative in the kitchen,” says Juliette. “Peeling, chopping, stirring, whisking and beating all burn more calories than simply heating up a ready meal. Have a go at making your own bread as kneading dough is hard work.” With the average British woman spending more than 16 hours a week cleaning the home, you may even be able to cancel your gym membership. In one hour you can burn 193 calories by vacuuming, 173 by dusting, 193 by mopping the floor, 113 by ironing and 180 by cleaning windows.

Great news! Summer is officially the easiest time of year to ditch our bad eating habits and get that diet sorted once and for all…

6 ways to track your calories

The Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible 2011 has the nutritional details of over 22,000 different foods.

Food swaps you’ll love – Laurence Beeken from Weight loss Resources suggests some healthy tweaks to your fav meals

Well done! You’ve lost the weight...now you just have to keep it off! Here’s some great advice to help you do just that

Stick with the habits that helped you lose weight

What you do to keep the weight off is at least as important as what you did to lose it, so keep up those good habits, says Juliette Kellow writing for www.weightlossresources.co.uk Slipping back into old habits, like having a biscuit with coffee or supersizing portions will soon see those pounds returning. That means having a low-fat, high fibre diet that contains five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

The internet isn’t just about YouTube and shopping. For many, it’s an important – and often anonymous – source of support. We talk to three women about the friendships they’ve made online.

‘Ginny encouraged me to lose 10st’

Angela Doyle, 51, from Ayrshire, works for a packing firm. She is married and has a son, Ross, 25.

‘I was on my way home from Corfu in 2007 when an air steward told me I was too big to sit by the emergency exit. I was 20st a size 30, and felt humiliated. I had to lose weight....so I Googled ‘calorie counting’ and came across www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

It had an online food diary to monitor what you’re eating – and a forum where you could chat openly with other members for help and support.

I registered on the forum and posted a picture. My first post read: ‘I’m a lifelong big lady in it for the long haul.’ The first response was from Ginny, who lives near Birmingham. I clicked on her profile and saw she was a mum in her late 40s who had weighed around 22st but was now half the size. Just seeing her photos inspired me.

My family and friends have supported me in my weight-loss battle, but at times I felt I couldn’t bore them moaning about my weight. But with Ginny it was different. We hit it off and I started logging on to the forum up to three times a day. She had been through what I was facing and we joked about our changing body shapes.

We chatted about everything. I’d go through how many calories I’d eaten or tell her about my ups and downs at work. She became my sounding board – and she gave it to me straight. She’d kick me up the backside if I was reluctant to go to the gym, or console me if I’d given in to a piece of cake. I lost weight steadily, and after two years with her support I achieved my 10st target. If it hadn’t been for Ginny’s honesty and humour, I’m not sure I could have achieved it. I still go online every day to chat with Ginny. Our conversations have moved on from weight- loss and now also include comparing notes on our husbands, grown-up-children and stressful workloads.

We may never have met or even spoken on the phone. But I consider her one of my closest friends.’

Drink yourself slim with the weight loss smoothie.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe mango, flesh only
• 1 small banana
• 100g low-fat peachy yoghurt
• 200ml cranberry juice

Fullness without fat is your weight loss mantra, ‘The full feeling this smoothie creates comes from the fibre and carbs in the fruit,’ says Laurence Beeken*. ‘The protein and calcium in the yoghurt slows the release of sugar into your bloodstream.’ It’s time to say hasta la vista, belly.

*Food Information Executive at weightlossresources.co.uk

Three years ago I was 16st. Then I lose 6 stone, largely thanks to running and entered my first marathon…

London Calling by Adrian Monti

The London marathon isn’t just a race, it’s an international institution, from how one man broke a world record wearing a 22ft high giraffe costume, to touching tales of lost loved ones and overwhelming support from strangers. This is an event that captures the hearts of runners and non runners alike. Twenty-six marathoners share their been-there-run-that accounts of one of the most famous sporting events in the world.

The Runner Within

Three years ago I was 16st. Then I lose 6 stone, largely thanks to running and entered my first marathon. I discovered I was good, finishing in 3:01 which earned me a good for age place the following year. Only 18 months before, I was obese, but now I was doing a race that I never dreamed I could manage.

It was the noise that overwhelmed me at first, so I loved going through the underpasses, silent except for the pounding of feet.

Martin Hall, 53, Guildford

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Don’t give up your favourites foods! Just make clever choices and watch the pounds drop off.

Can’t believe that making easy food swaps will reduce your waistline? Laurence Beeken from Weight Loss Resources (www.weightlossresources.co.uk) says it’s the small changes that will make a big difference to your weight.

Swapping full-fat milk for semi-skimmed could save you 2.7 calories every cuppa. Make it skimmed milk and you could save 4.9 calories a cup. It doesn’t sound a lot but that could easily add up to more than 200 calories a week.

Eating mature cheese instead of mild will also help, as stronger cheeses are more likely to satisfy your palate – meaning you won’t eat so much. Save more calories by choosing a low-fat mature cheddar.

Ditching cream and drizzling fruit and puddings with low-fat yoghurt instead is easier to get used to than you think – trust me! Chocoholics should choose lower calorie options, such as a Curly Wurly, or satisfy cravings with a low-calorie hot chocolate.

If savoury snacks are more your thing swap normal crisps for a rice or corn-based snack and you could save around 100 calories.

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Lose weight, save time and money and feel more positive by overhauling your eating habits.

Ban the Word ‘Diet’

‘Going on a ‘diet’ implies you start and finish on a particular day and then return to the eating habits that made you pile on the pounds,’ says Laurence Beeken, Weight Loss Resources nutritionist.’ Kick start a healthy eating plan that you can sustain for life instead.’

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

We’re big fans of Weight Loss Resources, one of the best online weight management tools that really does work and is in line with guidance on healthy eating. No gimmicks, no fads, just simple, healthy, weight loss advice and food tracking, using the most comprehensive database on the web. Lose weight and keep it off!

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Want to slim down but no time to attend a weight loss club?

Body Talk by Yasmine Gibson

Top nutritionist and author of The Food Bible and Slim for Life, Judith Wills, recommends www.weightlossresources.co.uk

WLR, as it is known to members, allows you to lose weight by calorie counting and monitoring your weekly nutritional intake. Depending on how long you sign up for, membership costs from £6.95 per month, and you'll get to see your diet profiled in pie charts.

This month we are helping you get fit with the best home fitness DVDs and books…

Diet Book

The Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible 2011 - £12.99, Weight Loss Resources

As an invaluable tool for counting the calories, this book will help anyone learn how to eat the right amount to create a balanced diet and manage their body weight. It’s easy to use and includes the calorie count of more than 22,000 UK foods and drinks.

Losing weight is one of the top new year’s resolutions, but by now many have given up. You can stick to it and slim – and these 12 women know how.

“I talk to myself”

Ruth Phelps, 47, Orpington, Kent

• Height: 5ft 8in
• Before: 16st, size 20
• Now: 10st 10lb, size 10
• Lost: 5st 4lb

“I believe in a positive mental attitude, so give myself a good talking to in front of the mirror to keep myself focused on losing weight.”

RUTH IS A MEMBER OF WEIGHT LOSS RESOURCES

“I went for low-cal booze”

Ellie Birch, 41, from Hull, East Yorkshire

• Height: 5ft 7in
• Before: 20st 3lb, size 24
• Now: 14st, size 14
• Lost: 6st 3lb

“I gave up drinking lager when I went out and instead swapped it for gin and a slimline mixer as my tipple of choice. I found that it really helped.”

ELLIE IS A MEMBER OF WEIGHT LOSS RESOURCES

“I stopped picking”

Rachel Gall, 29, from Walsall, West Midlands

• Height: 5ft 7in
• Before: 13st 1lb, size 16
• Now: 10st 6lbs, size 10
• Lost: 2st 9lbs

“If you’re the kind of person who picks at leftovers when you know you’ve had enough, stick a load of washing up liquid all over the food on the plate - it then won’t look so appealing and it really worked for me.”

RACHEL IS A MEMBER OF WLR Jan 25 2011

Think you can lose weight by skipping breakfast, spending an hour in the gym or sticking to ‘low-fat’ snacks? Then think again. Kate Hilpern explodes the myths behind the tips…

‘Lite’ foods and drinks are good for dieters

Foods described as ‘low-fat’ or ‘fat-free’ are often higher in calories than standard products, thanks to the extra sugars and thickeners used to boost the flavour and texture,” says Juliette Kellow, dietitian and adviser to Weight Loss Resources. Some low-fat products contain up to 60g of sugar per serving – almost as much as a 600ml bottle of Coca-Cola.

Help me Lose 5 stone – Mother of 2 Sally Kipping knows it’s time to change her lifestyle…

The Plan

Weight Loss Resources has devised a calorie plan for Sally and linked her to web forums and chat rooms.

Forget crash diets and ambitious gym regimes –making a few small changes can make a really big difference to your health in 2011. Kate Hilpern reports…

A new year means a new start and for many of us that means resolving to live better and be healthier, fitter and slimmer. But by February, these resolutions have often turned to dust.

The problem may be that we’re asking too much of ourselves. “In the new year, people tend to introduce enormous changes to their lifestyles in an attempt to shift some extra pounds or get fit,” says GP Dr Rob Hicks. “But it’s the small changes that make the biggest difference – it means they are more likely to become habit. Basic measures like leaving bowls of fruit in strategic places – near the remote control, by the bed and so on – can actually do more than any diet.”

Cutting out sugary drinks is another example. Alcoholic drinks also contribute lots of calories to our diet,without us eating less to compensate. Buying a smaller wine glass can cut significant numbers of calories from our diets without us even noticing.

Turn housework into a workout “Forget the gym. Housework is a great way to burn calories,” says Juliette Kellow, dietician and adviser to the online weight management programme Weight Loss Resources. “Polishing, dusting, mopping and sweeping are great for keeping arms shapely. Meanwhile, bending and stretching when you make the bed, wash windows or do the laundry are good for toning thighs and flexibility. And constantly running up and down the stairs as you tidy is a good aerobic workout.”

In an hour, you can burn 193.7 calories vacuuming, 173.6 by dusting, 193.7 mopping the floor, 113.1 ironing and 180.3 cleaning windows, she says.

More energetic household chores such as decorating and spring cleaning are even better. “Don’t forget the garden, either – weeding, digging, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges or bushes and sweeping up are all great muscle toners and calorie burners.” One hour of gardening can burn a mammoth 287.8 calories, she reports. Among Kellow’s tips are to use a wax polish in a tin rather than a spray as you’ll need to rub it much harder to get a shine. “Plan your housework so you have to run up and down the stairs,” she adds. “Empty the dishwasher, then make the bed, vacuum the living room, then clean the bathroom.”

When Kirsty Stevens took over a picturesque country pub, it seemed like a dream come true - until her new job caused her weight to balloon up to 18st.

Surrounded by delicious food all day, Kirsty admits she couldn't resist filling up on whatever the pub restaurant's chefs were rustling up in the kitchen.

"My weight had been up and down all my life, especially after having our two children," says Kirsty, 40, who runs The Swan at Choppington, near Morpeth, Northumberland, along with her husband Chris.

Kirsty, who has two children, William, 14, and Annabel, 12, says she'd tried other diets in the past, but never found one that worked for her long-term.

"Once we moved here, it was a total change to our old routine. We had food around us all the time," she says.

"Our food menu at the time was very rich and not something you should eat every day if you wanted to stay slim.

"I wasn't only eating it every day, I was having two large meals like this at least twice a day.

"If the chefs had come up with a new special dish, I wouldn't just taste it, I'd have the whole meal.

"And when there were only a few slices of a gateau or cheesecake in the cake cabinet, I would finish it off by having a slice as a snack rather than letting it go to waste."

Kirsty admits she turned a blind eye as she grew bigger.

She tried to cover up with men's baggy T-shirts or trousers with elasticated waists. But underneath, she knew she was a size 24.

"Eventually I had to face up to reality," Kirsty says.

"One morning I woke up and said to myself, 'enough is enough' and started trying to lose weight."

After coming back from a family holiday, Kirsty came across Weight Loss Resources, an online service, and gave it a go.

Members input everything they eat and all the exercise they do. From that data, the correct amount of daily calories is worked out automatically for each person's needs.

"I'd lost 17lbs on my own after starting at 17st 11lbs," she says. "All the tables, charts and graphs on the WLR site really appealed to me with my maths background. I knew I didn't want to go to a slimming club and had tried a few fad diets in the past but had never stuck to them."

Within a year, Kirsty hit her target weight of 10st 9lbs. She had lost a fraction over 100lbs in a year - days before her 40th birthday.

Autumn is here and we all know what’s next …..but don’t let those long, dark days get you down

Get Your Oats

Top up your energy levels first thing each morning with a hearty bowl of porridge. Because oats have a low-glycaemic index (GI) it will keep your blood sugar levels steady until lunchtime says Juliette Kellow, nutritionist for www.weightlossresources.co.uk . Also oat-based cereals – such as porridge – boost levels of serotonin and so keep you on a natural high during the day.

Spurred on by a tragic family loss, Ellie Birch, 40, refused to let her own life take the same route…

Standing on the scales, I cheered as the needle hovered at just under 14st. ‘You’ve done it!’ my husband, Ray, 61, a printer, grinned.

In January 2009, I’d started a sponsored slim to lose 4st 11lbs in time for my 40th birthday in August that year.

It was tough, but I was doing it for my dad, Paul Redhead. Like me, he loved food. For years we’d enjoyed big platefuls of pasta, or rich creamy desserts at my home in Sproatley, Hull.

When I met Ray, seven years ago, I found someone else who loved food as much as us. And when our son Benjamin, now four, was born my weight rocketed.

At 5ft 8ins, I weighed 19st 11lbs, and wore a dress size 24. Initially I wasn’t bothered. Ray loved me the way I was, and Dad was big too.

But even though Dad was 6ft 3ins he weighed around 23st and was morbidly obese. Doctors warned him his weight was dangerous, especially after a heart attack in 2000. ‘Don’t worry’, he said, ‘I’m fine’.

But in March 2008, medics discovered he had an aortic aneurism, linked to heart disease and his weight. They explained he needed an aortic aneurism repair. ‘It’s a routine procedure’, specialists told us.

So in November 2008, Dad was admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary.

‘See you on the other side for more Eton Mess’, he smiled. ‘You’re on’, I told him.

It was a total a total shock when he never came home. Surgeons told us there had been complications. ‘Your dad’s arteries had calcified and hardened’, they explained gently.

‘There was nothing we could do’.

Which was how Dad passed away on the operating table aged just 69. Me and my mum, Eileen, 65, were heartbroken.

Reality hit me. With my weight, I could be next. And Mum was overweight too, though she wouldn’t say by how much.

Then I saw the idea of a sponsored slim on a website called Weight Loss Resources.

WLR Member, Elsbells

• Start Weight: 19st 11lbs
• Current Weight: 14st 1lbs
• Goal Weight: 13st (initially)

Was I really that big? It’d been my dad’s 70th birthday and I was loading the pix onto my computer. I’d struggled to find anything glam enough to wear to the do, but those photos… I looked just awful.

I found Weight Loss Resources on the Internet. After putting in my details and how much a week I wanted to lose, it gave me a daily calorie allowance. Along with a database of every food you can imagine. I could also put in my own recipes and it worked out the calorie count. At first, I lost weight quickly but over the months it averaged 1-2lbs a week. But in 14 months, I had reached my goal weight – with a loss of 6½ stone!

My Diet Secret – Weight Loss Resources

• Then: 16st 2lbs
• Now: 9st 9lbs

Who wants to count calories on holiday? The whole point is to relax, and you can – without putting on a pound

With just a few simple food and drink swaps Juliette Kellow, dietitian at Weight Loss Resources has the lowdown on healthy foods to eat wherever you are in the world (all calories are per average restaurant serving).

• Holiday Food
• Eating out on a Diet

Low-Fat means Less calories

‘When fat is removed from food, so is the taste,’ explains Juliette Kellow, nutrition consultant for Weight Loss Resources. ‘Because of this, sweet low-fat foods in particular have extra sugar added to boost flavour, boosting the calorie content. Sugar is less filling than fat, so you often each twice as much to feel satisfied.’

Fresh Fruit and Veg Beats Frozen

Most frozen fruits and vegetables are ‘flash-frozen’ within 24 hours of picking, locking in valuable nutrients like vitamin B and C. ‘Because they’re processed at their peak in terms of freshness and nutrition, they can be better than some fresh fruit and vegetables,’ says Juliette Kellow.

The price of true love is that you’re more likely to pile on the weight.

Newlyweds Robin and Liam Craddock found it hard to stick to their plan. Every night after work, the couple cuddled up on the sofa at their home to watch films and share a TV supper.

Their favourite meal was pizza with chips, coleslaw and potato salad, followed by a slice of apple pie. Not surprisingly Robin started to gain weight.

On her wedding day, she’d been a curvy size 14 and 11 stone. But one and a half years later she was an uncomfortable size 18 and 13 stone.

Robin is not the only woman to find being happily married has an unexpected result. Recent research has revealed that more than one in five brides piles on weight in the first year of marriage – gaining on average a stone and a half.

Robin says: ‘My weight gain caused massive problems. My confidence became low and it affected every part of my life.’

Robin joined www.weightlossresources.co.uk and started a diary of what she was eating. Now she’s slimmer than she was on her wedding day.

Dine at your favourite restaurant without falling off the diet wagon

‘It’s often the small extras that add up,’ says Rebecca Walton from www.weightlossresources.co.uk. ‘Things like bread and butter, oil-based dressings and side orders of chips.’

She adds ‘Portion sizes tend to be high, so don’t be afraid to leave food on your plate and always choose flame-grilled, grilled, baked or barbecued meat and fish instead of fried.’

Enjoy harvesting, storing and cooking purple sprouting broccoli, rosemary and rhubarb this month. Visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk for a wealth of nutritional information

Find out how Kate Driskell lost five stone and left her days as the “fat girl” behind.

When Kate Driskell went to see her GP about a chest infection, the run-of-the mill appointment actually changed her life. She was heading towards 15 stone at the time and a passing remark from her doctor made her finally decide to start tackling her weight problem.

“I went to see my GP- who I’d never actually seen before- and after confirming I had a chest infection, she added ‘you’re quite overweight, aren’t you?’” remembers Kate, 36, from South West London.

“She took my blood pressure which was quite high. Then she asked me to get on the scales and I was shocked when I saw I was 14st 7lbs. I was told to come back in a month for a check-up and that I’d probably need blood pressure checks for the foreseeable future.

“I was stunned to be told that I was so overweight. It was then I decided I really had to do something about it.”

That was back in May 2006, but Kate had been piling weight on for years before.

“I’d never been small and was always a bit miserable about being the biggest in the class or among my gang of mates. When I was in my teens and older, I was really conscious that I was the ‘fat girl’ in the group.

“It really wasn’t that I was stuffing myself with cakes and sweets, it was just I was having very big portions of everything.”

Kate says she clearly remembers her size being mocked when she was a university student in her early 20s.

“I was walking along a path and two young lads started throwing stones and shouting ‘fatty’. I couldn’t believe at first they were saying it to me. I was about 13st at the time. I remember getting home and thinking how the words had been really hurtful.

“It made me think that was how people saw me and so it really knocked my confidence.”

Kate, who’s an IT team manager, knew that spending most of her working day sitting down and not getting enough exercise wasn’t helping either. But the harsh - and honest- comments from her GP finally sparked her into taking action.

“I didn’t want to go to a slimming club and be weighed there every week. I wanted to do it on my own and my own way.”

At first she says she would meticulously work out the calories on everything she ate. But while tracking down these statistics, she came across an online slimming site - www.weightlossresources.co.uk

It works by members signing up online and then inputting everything they eat and all the exercise they do. From that data, the correct amount of calories you need each day is worked out automatically for you.

“It seemed perfect. I could get on with it, and I followed the advice it gave to the letter. And it did exactly what it said it would do, and I lost the weight.

“I cut down on my two big loves - cheese and wine - but what I noticed most was the smaller portions I was having of everything. It seemed like a child’s size the first time I measured out how much cereal or pasta I should be eating. “I also used to have mad cravings for crusty bread, and would have a little bit every now and then, even though I saw how calorific it was.”

After a week Kate had lost 2lbs and she carried on losing weight like clockwork almost every week afterwards. She discovered she actually liked being really active and got into running, cycling and also joined a gym. “By doing more exercise, the plan worked that I could offset that against how much I was eating. The more I did, the more energy I burnt off. But as Kate shrank from a size 22 to a size 10, there were a few unexpected side effects.

“I was helping a friend move one day and I realised I didn’t have the strength to lift the heavy boxes any longer. So I decided to build up my muscles and tone up after losing the bulk of the weight.”

But after staying on the programme and continuing to lose weight, Kate had a whirlwind romance with Norman, who she married in April last year.

“For our honeymoon we went travelling around the West coast ofAmerica. Everywhere we went we had to ask for our food not to be covered in melted cheese! But I didn’t do too badly and only put on a couple of pounds while we were away.”

Kate has maintained her new look and still carefully measures out portions so she doesn’t fall back into her old ways.

“I’ve now got into running and hope to do a triathlon in the future. I’m much happier being comfortably under 10st and wearing size 10 - and even size eight in some shops. The only problem is that I now wear a couple of cardigans or have to wrap up because without that extra layer of fat I really feel the cold now!”

*For a free 24 hour trial or to find out more, visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk or call 01733 345592

If you’ve resolved to lose weight in 2010, crash diets are not the answer. Lauryn McGuiness reveals how to achieve the long-term results you want, the healthy way…

If you’re looking to lose weight this New Year, our experts each have suggestions on proven eating plans that could help you lose weight healthily and keep it off during 2010…

Laura Clark advises that a great resource is The Calorie Carb and Fat Bible 2009, £12.99, published by Weight Loss Resources and written by Lyndel Costain, Juliette Kellow and Rebecca Walton.

Offering the calorie, protein, carbohydrate, fat and fibre content of over 22,000 UK brands and basics, this latest edition of The Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible is a comprehensive but easy-to-use guide that aims to enable you to lose one to two pounds per week, depending on your personal goal, Laura says.

The book outlines the number of calories you need, how many are burned during exercise, healthy weight ranges and even includes food and exercise diary pages. ‘Calorie counting is a proven way to help people lose weight and one of the advantages is that no foods are banned,’ explains Juliette Kellow, Dietitian.

‘‘Concluding our special diet week, we asked Britain’s top health gurus for the one simple thing they recommend we do to lose weight and get fitter.’

‘Dietitian Juliette Kellow, a consultant with Weight Loss Resources, says: Claiming you have no time to cook is a poor excuse for relying on junk food and not eating well. You don’t need to be Nigella or Jamie to create healthy, tasty meals. Veggie omelettes, jacket spuds, chicken fajitas, beef stir fries, even beans on wholemeal toast, all take less than 15 minutes from kitchen to table.’

Her resentment seemed greater than mere jealousy. It was as though every one of the pounds that I’d lost had gone directly on to her hips. In an attempt at mollification, I offered the diets details. Or rather detail: all I’d done was cut out fat.

Jo responds that this is not only easy for me to say, it’s easy for me to do: men lose weight with less effort than women. And scientifically she’s right. A greater proportion of men’s body weight is muscle mass. And it is muscle mass that dictates your metabolic rate and how well you burn calories. This explains why the average man needs 2500 calories a day to maintain his current weight, whereas a woman needs only 2000. It a typical man drops to the 2000 levels, he will lose one pound a week, says Juliette Kellow, a dietitian at www.weightlossresouces.co.uk.’

‘Ursula had spent the first 40 years of her life overweight. At work, she sat at a desk all day, snacked on biscuits and cakes and had a burger for lunch. Once home, she ate huge portions and nibbled on her kids’ leftovers. So, not surprisingly, her weight slowly climbed to 19st 8lbs.’

‘As her 40th birthday approached, she felt it was time to slim down. Ursula had previously lost a couple of stone at a slimming club, but the weight piled back on when she left. For daily help she registered online with www.weightlossresources.co.uk, where she set her goal weight (9st 13lb) and her target weekly weight loss. She also kept a food and exercise diary and set a daily calorie quota.’

‘She initially hoped to lose 2lbs a week, but dropped it to 1lb or 1/2lbs some weeks to give herself a break, and the help team and members forum kept her motivated. With their support, Ursula lost 9st 11lbs over 18 months. As she now weighs this amount, she is literally half the person she once was! The site also offers products to buy, such as pedometers, a food diary calculator, accurate scales, and body fat monitors. The service costs £9.74 per month and there is a free 24-hour trial.’

‘Everyone can lose weight – temporarily. The problem is that 80% of us will pile it all back on again. But what is you could find an eating plan that fits you and your lifestyle, and helps you keep the weight off year after year? '

With the help of our unique quiz and expert diet advice, that dream can now be a reality.

'Never mind cutting down a bit, you thrive on organisation and do best with the discipline of a clear plan. If you know what you have to do, you can stick with it. Try online slimming plans like Weight Loss Resources.’

‘Dieting support groups offer healthy-eating weight-loss plans with weekly support, which lasts even after losing weight. There are also online support groups such as Weight Loss Resources.’

‘Father Christmas, Santa Claus, whatever you call him: you’ve got to admire his work ethic.

Even after his year’s work of deciding who has been naughty and nice is done, he must get the presents and deliver them. With six billion people in the world, that’s a heck of a job. We take a look at what goes into his biggest night of the year.

Number of Calories Consumed

Assuming once mince pie (250kcal for the Co-operative Own Brand in the author’s cupboard) and one 50ml glass of sherry per household (58kcal, according to weightlossresources.co.uk) we have 308 calories times 233,000,000 households, or 71,764,000,000 calories total.’

There are plenty of online calorie calculators that will provide an estimate of your calorie needs, and also calculate calories spent on the bike and in other activities. This will give you a framework around which to organise your diet.

Weight Loss Resources has one such tool that will give you a guide to your daily needs. It will allow you to input whether you wish to maintain or lose weight, and calculate a figure accordingly. Visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk’

‘With all the parties and socialising over Christmas we’re tempted to tuck into vast amounts of food and drink. On Christmas Day alone, eating your traditional meal plus nibbles and drinks can rack up a staggering 7500 calories.’

‘Dietitian Juliette Kellow from www.weightlossresources.co.uk, has the following calorie-reducing tips.’

‘Check out the calorie counts of snacks at weightlossresources.co.uk and you’ll think twice before splurging. A handful of peanuts is 300 calories, a bag of crisps is around 200. And if you ate 70 chocs over the festivities, they’d help you gain a pound in weight.’

‘Dietitian Juliette Kellow from www.weightlossresources.co.uk, has the following calorie-reducing tips.’

‘Want to look your best in your favourite slinky frock? Kim Jones discovers some surprisingly simple tricks to help you shape up fast.

Don’t Fall for Low Fat

Research has shown that when a food is labelled low fat we see it as a licence to eat more of it. One Cornell University study showed people consumed 28 per cent more calories while snacking on sweets labelled low fat because they believed they were healthier and less calorific. ‘Low fat doesn’t necessarily mean low calorie,’ warns Juliette Kellow from weightlossresources.co.uk. ‘A lot of low-fat foods are laden with sugars and thickeners to bulk them out and boost taste so check calorie counts on low-fat foods.’’

‘This site is probably one of the best on the Internet for anyone wanting to lose weight or simply to eat more healthily.

The system is based on the basic principles of healthy eating which is in line with the Government’s ‘Balance of Good Health’ model and has been devised by qualified dietitians. There is an abundance of great advice in healthy eating, weight management, exercise, case studies and even a ‘runner’s forum’ – all provided by trustworthy experts in the field.’

‘Logging your food and drink intake is incredibly easy and the team at WLR manages a constantly updated database of pretty much any food or drink you can possibly imagine. You simply have to choose the portion size or enter the weight of the food you’ve eaten.’

‘One of the best features is the ‘pie chart’ summary showing the balance of fat, carbohydrates and protein in your diet each day. This is useful for runners who need to check they are eating the correct amounts of carbohydrate and protein and can be helpful when carb loading for a marathon for example.’

‘The whole site is crammed with motivating personal weight loss stories, bang up to date research, articles and fitness advice alongside the diary and tracking system. It helps you to really understand how much you eat, the balance of your diet and energy expenditure in a very simple and effective format. Even if you think you eat healthily, there is always room for improvement and using a tracking system like this really does help to highlight where those changes can be made. ‘

‘There is a fantastic site called weightlossresources.co.uk which tells you how many calories there are in everything you eat. Cadbury’s Cream Egg, Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, Jelly Babies.’

‘Whether it’s drinks with the neighbours, a glam celebration or the office ‘do’ these expert tips will make you the life and soul of the party.

Dietitian Juliette Kellow, who works with weightlossresources.co.uk, suggests these ways to keep the calorie count down when you’re partying.’

According to www.weightlossresources.co.uk people with a body fat above 25 per cent in men aged 20-39 and above 39 per cent in women of the same age are technically obese. A figure between eight per cent and 20 per cent in men and 21 per cent and 33 per cent in women is considered healthy.’

‘I was on a girls’ holiday in France and wanted to buy a pair of jeans. My friends were waiting while I struggled to find a pair that fitted. Eventually I did – a size 24 pair!

I was really fed up with being fat. Over the years, I’d stare at my ever-growing body in the mirror and promise myself that by summer I’d be thin again.

I broke that promise year after year until I discovered Weight Loss Resources. With this online calorie counting diet, I’ve learnt to eat well and I’ve discovered exercise. Before my only exercise used to be walking from the car to the kerb - now I run over 150 miles a month!

I log on and fill in my diary every day, even when I’m on holiday! It’s easy to use, there’s a help team if you have a problem, and forums to swap advice and tips. At £9.74 a month it’s also brilliant value.

Caz

• Aged: 50
• Height: 5ft 7
• Before: 15st 9lbs
• Now: 11st 7

Sweet Dreams

During intensive training, have your breakfast pre-prepared to eat the moment you wake. The body’s amazingly responsive, so every minute counts.

Juliette Kellow, BSc RD, Dietitian

Angela Doyle was horrified to see a photo of herself at 20 stone. But now it’s a constant reminder of just how far she has come.

‘At 20 stone and a size 32 she could hardly believe how she looked. But despite her embarrassment, the pictures have helped 49 yr old Angela lose a huge 10 stone.

‘I wanted to be in control and not be told what I could and couldn’t eat.

She searched on the net and came across Weight Loss Resources.

‘I have learned that food is not a reward but a fuel.’

Juliette Kellow, dietitian for www.weightlossresources.co.uk warns: 'The food available at services stations, airports, buffet cars and ferry terminals is likely to be high in fat and calories. An airline meal averages around 600 calories. I strongly advise taking your own snacks, sandwiches, and fruit for the journey.'

Dear Deidre

My girl is so overweight she gets out of breath when we make love.

Sex used to be great but since she’s got fat it’s really got dull.

Deidre says: Weight gain can be a touchy subject, but if she’s getting out of breath there are real health worries here.

Is she stressed about something? Encourage her to talk to you. Say you love her and miss the girl she used to be.

Share the challenge of getting fit. There are lots of ideas and information on weightlossresources.co.uk.

More than 60% of people surveyed by www.weightlossresources.co.uk said they’d been bullied, made fun of or discriminated against because of their size. What’s more, a quarter of all respondents said their weight had hindered their career prospects.

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

A mammoth calorie and nutrition database with data on more than 50,000 foodstuffs. The exercise database tells you exactly how many calories you've burned doing what - and what that means in mouthfuls. Free trial on signup.

We are into the lead up to summer and for many of us this spells a strict diet and weeks of starvation and deprivation. But in reality, this isn’t the healthiest or happiest way to lose weight and doesn’t offer a long term solution to keeping those pounds off.

Being frugal doesn’t have to mean eating junk. Juliette Kellow, dietitian for www.weightlossresources.co.uk gives us cheap food ideas that are still super…

• Canned Salmon – Salmon is a great source of omega 3 fats, essential for heart health and brain function, as well as supple joints and healthy skin. Canned salmon is cheaper and just as good as fresh salmon.
• Broccoli – Packed with cancer-fighting anti-oxidants as well as immune-boosting Vitamin C and potassium.
• Canned tomatoes – Again, cheaper than fresh and a great choice for pasta sauces. They’re also packed full of lycopene, which has been linked to fighting certain cancers.
• Oats – A brilliant source of fibre, they’ll fill you up by keeping blood sugar levels stable and are also good for cholesterol. A bowl of porridge is a brilliant, inexpensive breakfast.
• Carrots – A good source of beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A – important for healthy eyesight and a good immune system. More beta-carotene is absorbed from cooked carrots.

The food diary diet

Lisa Elliot, 39, has lost more than six stone in three years with Weight Loss Resources – the online calorie counter and food diary. She is PA to a business consultant and lives in Birmingham with her husband and three children.

I was big even as a girl – I think it comes from growing up eating high calorie Afro-Caribbean food – and over the years I’ve tried so many ways to lose weight.

While surfing the internet, I found Weight Loss Resources. Their diet is based on calorie counting – you key in your age, height (me: 5ft 7), weight (by then 17 stone nine pounds) and activity level (‘moderately sedentary’, as I have a desk job). You also put in your goal weight and how many pounds a week you want to lose (from just ½ pound to two pounds). It then works out how many calories a day you need to achieve your goal – for me, that’s 1,381 until I reach ten and a half stone. What’s brilliant is that at the end of each day I type in what I’ve eaten and it works out the total calories.

Some people find calorie counting restrictive, but it works for me as nothing is a sin as long as I don’t exceed my daily total. Now, instead of having fried chicken and chips for dinner, I might have steamed fish and vegetables, and I weigh my food so that I eat proper portions rather than filling my plate.

The other big change is that I exercise. You key in the amount of activity you do, which either lets you increase your calorie total or speeds up your weight loss. I run four times a week and I’ve gone from feeling like my heart would stop to training for a half marathon.

When I was bigger I felt that people noticed my weight first, not who I was. Today I’m 11 stone four pounds. I look good and I feel good – and I’ve found a tool that has helped me to achieve that.

How Lisa Curbs The Calories

• Keep a diary of everything you eat for a week – it will open your eyes to why you’ve put on weight.
• Find Inspiration from other’s weight loss stories
• Weight Loss Resources costs £9.74 and you can test out the service with a free 24 hr free trial

It’s essential to keep a food diary for weight-loss. Research shows that more people lose weight when they keep a note of what they eat and it will certainly help you control calorie intake and identify where you may be going wrong. That’s why our fantastic free food and exercise diary from Weight Loss Resources (www.weightlossresources.co.uk) is a great gift to help you lose weight and tone up in 2009!

Dietitian, Lyndel Costain, BSc RD quotes some US research, which shows there is scientific evidence that keeping a food diary, helps with weight-loss. Lyndel emphasises that keeping a food diary is not meant to make you feel guilty about what you eat. Rather, a food diary will help you to recognise and work on the problem areas that have been stopping you from making the changes you need.’

Diet for Energy.

‘I lost over 2st and boosted my confidence.’ Katherine Chamberlin

‘Around 18 months ago, I decided to go on a diet. At 5ft 7, I weighed 12st. I wasn’t an unhealthy eater, but I did have a problem controlling portion sizes and the pounds had crept on, making me a large size 14.

At www.weightlossresources.co.uk it shows you how to slim safely, week by week, providing you with suggested meals and calorie content. I used recipes with specific portion sizes which helped and also started an online food diary. It took five months to reach 9st 7 which I am today – and I’ve never felt so confident.’

…With the click of a mouse, you could have a better body in 2009.

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

This is the best website for diet advice, with hundreds of calorie-checks on popular foods, the lowdown on all the latest diets, plus a chat forum.

Nic75

• Was: 14st 9lbs
• Now: 10st 9lbs

I logged on to www.weightlossresources.co.uk. The first week was an eye-opener…after a few months, my eating behaviour and the foods I liked began to change because, with the diet diary, I could see how unhealthy and calorific things were…’

Lindsey

• Was: 12st 1lb
• Now: 9st 1lb

…using www.weightlossresources.co.uk it has a member forum, where everyone discussed their diets and calorie counts…I picked up loads of tips and soon lost the flab…

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

There is a huge database of foods, a range of diet plans from 1,000 to 1,750 calories a day, plus recipes and motivational tips, all available to members of the site…’

Pat Wilson, at www.weightlossresources.co.uk says ‘In a survey we did of 2,000 people, nearly 80% said weight is more of an issue in the workplace now compared to a few years ago…’

Find out more ideas from www.weightlossresources.co.uk

‘Remember that you don’t have to take formal exercise to get a workout. Scrubbing the floor for 40 minutes will burn 300 calories – if you can bear to do it for that long!’ Juliette Kellow, Dietitian for www.weightlossresources.co.uk

I joined Weight Loss Resources, a web-based diet programme that works out how much you need to eat to lose weight. It’s tailored to your weight, height and activity level and is so easy to use that I was soon hooked.

‘This updated book provides a useful reference for anyone wanting to control their calorie intake……There is a great section on ‘coping with common slimming saboteurs’ looking at organisational and mental strategies to keep you on track. There is no doubt too that the food lists provided are extremely helpful for anyone wishing to control their intake in order to lose pounds or maintain a healthy weight.’ 

Lynn Clay 4/5

There’s an exercise database that tells you how many calories you’ve burned and a food diary tool. You can talk to other members in a forum, swap stories, get advice and make new friends.

The Internet is full of supportive sites, such as weightlossresources.co.uk which offer useful suggestions to encourage and motivate you.

Useful if you don’t want to exclude any overall food groups.

Spread It Around

Be clever with your favourite spreads and you’ll lose pounds. ‘If you leave your butter out of the fridge and opt for runny honey, you can spread them thinly and get all the taste but half the calories,’ says Juliette Kellow, diet expert at www.weightlossresources.co.uk

The party season’s looming and you’re desperate to wear that slinky Little Black Dress, but you don’t want to sacrifice the good life. We’re here to help you find a diet that works for you and your lifestyle!

All our slimmers got ongoing support by logging on to www.weightlossresources.co.uk for tips and advice.

The Calorie-Counting Diet

Lindsay Blake, 39, is a busy mother of two and works part time. She lost 3st on a calorie counting plan.

The Grazing Diet

Erin Kirby, is a PA. Because she’s diabetic, she needed a plan that prevented her blood-sugar levels from peaking too high. She lost nearly 3st by introducing healthier snacks and smaller meals.

The Weekend Off Diet

Sam Moreby, has two children and works full time. She lost nearly 3st by watching what she ate in the week, then relaxing the rules at the weekend.

Fat File – Laura Moore

• Height: 5ft 7
• Top Weight: 19st 1lbs
• Weight Now: 9st 7lbs

'I found Weight Loss Resources… It gives you the calorie count breakdown of everything you eat, how many calories you can have if you exercise too, and helps you keep a food diary.

'There are supportive forums to give you encouragement and ideas. It worked perfectly…'

Tip – At weightlossresources.co.uk, you can simply tap in your height, weight, age and background activity level and they’ll work out how many calories you need each day to maintain your current weight.

Joanne

• Height: 5ft 4½
• Top Weight: 13st 3lbs
• Weight Now: 9st 13lbs

'I decided to try calorie counting with Weight Loss Resources. Because calorie counting is a simple science and the site is easy and accessible, there is never an excuse not to do it…'

Jane Gill, 34. Weight Before: 13st 7lbs. Weight Now: 9st 4lbs. Total Loss: 4st 3lbs.

I was always slim when I was younger, but having three kids all within a few years had taken its toll on my body.

Through healthy eating advice from Weight Loss Resources, such as eating smaller portions and cutting out sugar, I've got down from a size 18 to a 10 in three years.

If your meat portions verge on vegan, you need to beef up. 'Small portions mean smaller intakes of protein, vitamins and minerals,' says Juliette Kellow of www.weightlossresources.co.uk. 'Red meat is one of your best sources of iron, and it's in a form your body can easily absorb', says Kellow.

I lost 9st and learned to score

'A protein-filled breakfast with high-fibre bread is a great weight-loss tactic, says Juliette Kellow of www.weightlossresources.co.uk. Eggs are the way to go…'

I thought I’d share with you a very addictive, fun way to help lose weight – some of us from my office do it and we’re hooked! Buy the Food and Exercise Daily Diary (£5.99) on the Weight Loss Resources website (www.weightlossresources.co.uk) and, using the calorie-counting info the website provides, work out how many calories you’re allowed per day and then keep track of how many you’re burning, how many you’re using and if you’ve earned a treat! It’s very simple and motivational, and you learn a lot about what’s in your food and how your body works.

Phone a friend - particularly one who has stayed slim. 'Having a good support network of people who will motivate you will help you to succeed!' says Pat Wilson from www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Pregnant? Craving chocolate and chips? Why watch your weight when you’ll be in baggy clothes anyway? Obesity in pregnancy is a problem that doctors, midwives and future mums can’t ignore. It’s predicted that by 2010 one in five mums-to-be will be obese. But the best time to lose weight is before trying for a baby or between pregnancies. Juliette Kellow is a dietitian for online diet club weightlossresources.co.uk. She says: ‘To lose weight before you get pregnant, don’t use any diets that restrict food groups. They make you lose vitamins and mineral stores, which growing babies need. Low-GI diets follow healthy-eating rules. Extra calories aren’t necessary in pregnancy until the last three months. Then only about 200 a day more – many women don’t even need them.’

British mums eat 73,043 calories a year by nicking bits of their kids’ food, says a survey for website www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Mums make themselves fat by pinching food off their KIDS, an astonishing new survey has revealed. Finishing off children’s meals ‘to avoid waste’ and nicking the odd chip adds up to an extra 1,404 calories each week. That’s enough to put on a whopping ONE STONE SIX POUNDS in a year.

One in five finishes off the kids’ meals, according to the survey of 2,500 mums by internet firm www.weightlossresources. And 16% deliberately cook too much so they can eat some themselves.

Pat Wilson said: ‘It soon adds up.'

Eat Breakfast

Eating breakfast is one thing that makes a big difference in weight management,’ says Juliette Kellow, registered dietitian and consultant to www.weightlossresources.co.uk. ‘When we skip meals, our blood sugar levels drop dramatically and this usually leaves us feeling low in energy, tired, hungry, irritable and having carb cravings. Consequently, we’re more likely to grab fatty or sugary foods later in the day to fill us up which can result in a greater calorie intake overall.’

Slimmer of the week: Val Milehen

• Weight before:12st 2lbs
• Weight now: 9st 7lbs
• Lost: 2st 9lbs

‘I put on weight when I stopped smoking two years ago,’ says Val. ‘I already had lung problems and the extra weight made it worse. I chose to use online diet club Weight Loss Resources. Every day I’d enter what I’d eaten and it would calculate the calories. It wasn’t what I was eating but the amount that was the problem, so now I watch my portions.’

For more information, visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

‘These women used to get out of breath climbing the stairs. Now they’ve shed weight and run miles for fun’. By Adrian Monti

Susan Cuin

• Age: 38
• Height: 5ft 6”
• Top Weight: 16st 8lbs
• Weight Now: 10st 8lbs

Running has kept me sane

‘At school I hated sport – especially running – and by my late teens I was up to 14st and began suffering with depression. My medication made me even larger.

I had a real weakness for chocolate – I could easily sit and eat a whole bar after having a large pizza at night.

One evening in October 2005, I came across an online diet forum called Weight Loss Resources. Joining was the best decision I ever made. You had to be honest about what you’d eaten and how active you’d been. The site would calculate how many calories you had left that day.

It was great. I realised for instance that running would give me a greater eating allowance. First I started a regular walk, and gradually sliced 10 minutes off how long it took me.

After joining a gym in January 2006, I took up running. It didn’t take long before I was hooked and began to really love it. I adore jogging through the countryside – it’s so invigorating. I’ve also entered competitions, and have completed three 10km races and shorter runs.

I joke that running has helped me over my depression – I like to think going out for a run has actually kept me sane!

Visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk or call 01733 345592.

When Prince Charles, that tireless champion of healthy eating and paragon of organic virtue, called for a ban on Big Macs last month it came as little surprise.

What was perhaps more interesting, however, was the fact his Duchy Original pasty contained more calories, saturated fat and salt than the average Big Mac.

Here, courtesy of www.weightlossresources.co.uk are a few other surprisingly calorific snacks.

Are you always thirsty? Have you the need to urinate all the time? Do you suffer from extreme fatigue, blurred vision or numb feet and hands? If so, you might be one of the estimated 750,000 people in Britain who have type 2 diabetes but don’t know it…

Keeping fit

Regular exercise reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Using Nordic walking poles (www.dietandfitnessresources.co.uk) burns around a third more calories than ordinary walking. Keep shoulders relaxed and your hands and poles close to your body.

Recalcitrant children of the UK rejoice: Brussels sprouts are officially out of favour. The only problem is they’ve been replaced by broccoli.

The latest rejig of the basket of goods used to calculate inflation, revealed by the Office for National Statistics yesterday, portrays an increasingly health-conscious consumer, embracing technology and feeling the effects of global warming.

'Broccoli is virtually fat-free, low in sodium and contains more vitamin C than an orange!' screams Weight Loss Resources, an online healthy eating guide. Sprouts don’t seem to feature.

Lose the Love Handles

Extra padding above the waist may have to go before a belt will tighten another notch. Try fat-burning aerobics, swimming, walking or dancing. For diet tips, check www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

'We shouldn't underestimate the enormity of this problem', says Juliette Kellow of www.weightlossresources.co.uk. 'The health problems that these children are facing are terrifying.' These include heart disease, cancers and type 2 diabetes. 'Obesity generally goes hand in hand with a diet that's high in sugar and fats and low in fruit and veg.'

Motivation Boosters that Work

'Focus on what's in it for you to be slimmer and fitter,' says dietitian Juliette Kellow from www.weightlossresources.co.uk. 'You'll feel confident in your wedding dress, and look back on your photos feeling proud of yourself - but you'll also feel more confident in daily life, look better in your jeans on honeymoon, have more energy… and those are just my ideas for starters.'

It's definitely worth taking the three-day free trial, as the quantity and quality of information stored on this site is truly impressive. As a member, you are given a daily calorie allowance based on your personal details, and there is a vast database of foods to help you keep track of your intake in an online diary, which also helps you monitor the general nutritional value of your diet. Very much a tried and tested SaH favourite.

Which Slimming website do you visit the most?

Rachael, editor: www.weightlossresources.co.uk - it has lots of useful features, including massive calorie databases and online food diaries.

For some workouts to get you started visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk and click on to Upper Body Toning Exercises.

Is stapling children’s stomachs a step too far in the fight against obesity By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Government’s watchdog on new treatments, yesterday recommended that surgery be offered to grossly obese children to control their weight, but only when all other options – dieting, exercise, behavioural therapy and drugs – had been tried and failed.

Does NICE recommend a diet?

Yes, It warns that ‘unduly restrictive and nutritionally unbalanced diets’ should be avoided because they are ineffective and can be harmful.

Cutting out a Mars bar (65gms containing 294kcals), a Danish pastry (287 kcals) and a mug of tea (29kcals) would save 606 calories according to the web site www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

Kate Rew asked nutritionist Juliette Kellow at www.weightlossresources.co.uk to guide us through a low-cal Christmas.

'There isn't much difference between red and white wine, but the higher the strength of the wine the higher its calories', says Juliette Kellow.

The main thing that determines calories in pints is the strength. The stronger they are the more calories they will have in them; a five per cent lager has 255 cals, a 3.5 per cent lager has 170'.

It would take a saint to stick to a low-cal diet and Christmas Day. So here's how to indulge a little without overdoing it… 'Always have a light snack a few hours before arriving at a party. If you've starved yourself all day you're more likely to become a permanent fixture at the buffet table,' says Dietitian Juliette Kellow (www.weightlossresources.co.uk)

More and more of us are using online dieting websites to get slim… Bella's top 3 slimming websites: www.weightlossresources.co.uk…

Do Your Sums - The fatter you are, the greater your risk because fat tissue increases levels of the hormone oestrogen circulating in the blood…

The website www.weightlossresources.co.uk is useful for anyone wanting to lose weight.

Kickstart your weight loss… There are calories databases online such as www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

'I am a definite apple shape. I carry all my extra weight around my midriff.' Louise Hadfield

'Over the last year, I have lost more than two stone through Weight Loss Resources and have started exercising.

'I still have extra pounds on the bottom half of my body.' Dayle Burnside

Librarian Sam, 34, spent her life on and off diets until she realised she could eat more if she exercised. Now 3st lighter and a size 8, she's recently completed her first half marathon.

Erin Mitchell, was 12st 9lbs, now 9st 7lbs.

The day I got into a pair of size 10 jeans was the best day ever.

Erin use the calorie-counting plan at www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

Joy Marshall, starting weight 10st 10lbs, weight now 8st 6lbs, weight lost 2st 4lbs.

'I started counting calories and soon discovered that some 'healthy' things I'd been eating (like cereal bars) weren't so low-cal after all.' Joy slimmed with www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Dina

• Start weight: 13st 3lbs
• Weight now: 9st 13lbs
• Weight lost: 4st

By using the site in conjunction with weighing all my food, I found a very powerful and effective way to lose weight while still eating all the foods I like.

• Starting Weight: 12st 9lbs
• Current Weight: 9st 7lbs

If you’re self-conscious about going to diet meetings, or you want something a little more interactive than a diet book, the new craze in cyber-dieting may be for you…

Best Information: www.weightlossresources.co.uk

The menu? Eat anything you like, though it will obviously cost you in calories. The website then generates a pie chart of fat, carbs, etc – all a bit scary, but the information aspect of the site is really brilliant.

'Dieting Left Me Depressed’

Emma Allison, 29 has tried numerous diets, but after years of deprivation the only thing lost was her spirit.

'My weight has yo-yo’d crazily in the past – varying between 14 stone and 9st 11lbs. In September 2005 I started using weightlossresources.co.uk and have since lost 3 stone’.

Siobhan Lavery found out that she had an underactive thyroid gland when she was pregnant. 'One of the main problems with an underactive thyroid is a slow metabolism, so I've always found it difficult to diet and then maintain my weight… using www.weightlossresources.co.uk… I can just log on and download menus, shopping lists and calorie counters… since using the site I have lost 2 stone…'

Did you know?

According to a survey by diet club, www.weightlossresources.co.uk, more than 60 per cent of people unhappy with their weight say they've been bullied and made fun of due to their size.

Lynne Rawlings

• Start Weight: 19st
• Weight Now: 11st 7lbs
• Weight Lost: 7st 7lbs

Lynne shed a whopping 7½ stone with online diet club www.weightlossresources.co.uk . It’s great because no foods are banned… I just wish I had done this sooner.’

Restricting sugar intake is a sure-fire way to slash your risk of obesity and diabetes, according to WHO. If you find cutting back a challenge, try these craving-bursting tips.

‘Try natural fruit juice,’ says Pat Wilson from Weight Loss Resources. ‘It’ll give you the sweet taste you want but as fruit sugars are lower GI than sucrose, it won’t wreak havoc with your blood-sugar levels.’

20 Pound Shrinkers

Yo-yo and crash dieters often end up with a net gain. Sensible dieting involves steadily losing around 2lbs a week – that way the weight’s more likely to stay off. For advice from nutritionists on different dietary approaches, recipes, a calorie counter and help from fellow dieters via a chatroom, try the free three-day trial on www.weightlossresources.co.uk

WLR contains a huge amount of useful information about slimming, a recipe database and a forum where you can talk with other dieters. But the bit I was most interested in was the calorie counter and food diary. This is like an online slimming group. It can help you set a target weight and calculate calories for you; it also allows you to track your progress on weight-loss and body-fat charts.

Pros: The Weight Loss Resources site is easy to use and great if you don’t fancy working out the calorie content of food yourself. There are also lots of good sections with tips, charts to show you how you’re doing, and information to ensure you eat a healthy, balanced diet. And it’s cheaper than a traditional slimming club.

Recommended for… Busy slimmers who like getting lots of information about health and already know what constitutes a balanced diet.

Need some motivation to get off the couch? Take a look at our top ten websites on health and fitness.

www.weightlossresources.co.uk. The truth about diet fads, calorie counter, reviews of exercise equipment and member's success stories for moral support. Register for full membership or try a free 3-day trial.

This is the time of year when some of us vow to leave our ragged old selves behind and emerge in the new year as a more admirable individual. If like most people your resolutions last until the second week of January then here’s a few places to inspire you.

Those seeking to lose weight should visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

Fat is the great aesthetic taboo of our age. But how did we come to equate fat with failure and weight loss with success? Linda Grant relates how she learned to get things into proportion.

'9½lbs is how much you could lose in a year if you give up your evening tipple. Alcohol is wasted calories,' says Pat Wilson, Member Services Manager for online slimming club www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

Internet dieting can provide easy to follow eating plans and a vital support network to help you beat the flab.

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

'I'd definitely recommend this resource' says registered dietitian Ursula Arens. 'The information is clear, comprehensive and scientifically responsible'.

Don't become complacent

Pat Wilson, from slimming website www.weightlossresources.co.uk says 'It's easy to pick up bad habits when you've nearly reached your goal…'

• Vegetable and Turkey Fajitas
• Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

Being faced with plates of crisps and cakes every time someone on the office has a birthday means you're loading up on calorific treats practically every week… 'These situations are a major source of anxiety for our members,' says Pat Wilson of www.weightlossresources.co.uk

The Calorie Counter: For online advice visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk

The big restaurant chains' reluctance to spill the beans has also frustrated Pat Wilson of www.weightlossresources.co.uk: 'It's vital that people know how much they're consuming so they can compensate for the overindulgence,' she says. 'Otherwise, eating out on a weekly basis could lead to a weight gain of 2lbs to 3lbs a month - and a scary 26lbs or more a year.'

(Info based on www.weightlossresources.co.uk)

10 Fuel Foods suggested by Pat Wilson, Weight Loss Resources

Hitting her sixties spurred Mary Jenkins to lose over 7st and it began with the click of a mouse.

I found a weight-management programme on the internet, called Weight Loss Resources. It works by giving you guidelines as to what constitutes a healthy diet and how much you should be eating for your desired weight loss. Most importantly I've developed a close circle of friends through WLR.

With angling still the country's biggest participant sport, could we hold the key to the nation's fitness?

January: Set realistic goals… for support, visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

The Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible 2006.

As successful weight loss always boils down to taking in fewer calories than you burn, this book is a must have for all slimmers.

…use www.weightlossresources.co.uk to track her intake…

This eating plan was devised by Juliette Kellow dietitian for Weight Loss Resources. For more information, visit www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

HOT - Three days free access to www.weightlossresources.co.uk, a huge calorie and food database.

NOT - Guessing your calorie intake. Go online, get real and stop kidding yourself.

'Online chats kept me busy.' - Tracy Dobson, 30, has lost three stone using www.weightlossresources.co.uk.

Sahra Kay kept a food diary on her trip to the Algarve with 14 members of her family.

Dietary breakdown courtesy of Weight Loss Resources, the UK's biggest online food database.

Because she spends so much time at her computer, Melody decided to see what help she could find on the internet and came across weightlossresources.co.uk - an online slimming club.

'I signed up for a free three-day trial and then started to input all the food I was eating - from branded foods to recipes. I could tell at a glance how many calories, fat, sugar etc I was eating, and learned how to make more sensible choices - the site details the values of just about every food and drink you can imagine.

'It's a great educational tool because you can put in your favourite recipes and amend them for calories and fat, and there's a newsletter with loads of helpful articles and tips, plus you can chat online to other members, which I find really supportive'.

In January this year, five readers resolved to lose weight. We revisit Abigail, Pam, Lisa, Kathy & Sharron to see how they're getting on.

Log onto www.weightlossresources.co.uk for tips and find a friend who can be your diet partner.

There are lots of helpful calorie-counting books on the market. Try The Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible by Dr Jeremy Sims and Tracey Walton (Weight Loss Resources, £12.99) available at most bookshops. You can also get similar information on the internet; try www.weightlossresources.com.

The more you know about what's in what you eat, the easier it is to make sure your diet is healthy and your weight stays under control. The Calorie Bible gives the calorie, carbohydrate, protein, fat and fibre content of over 20,000 UK brands and basics. There's also advice on how to eat healthily, and charts showing how many calories you burn, your BMI and healthy weight range. The Calorie Bible, priced at £12.99 is available is from book stores or online at www.dietandfitnessresources.co.uk or by phone on 01733 345592.

…lack of time makes online dieting ideal. Try www.weightlossresources.co.uk (from £7 per month). It states the exact calorie intake you need to reach your target weight.

Katie lost her weight by logging-on to Weight Loss Resources, an online slimming club. She says. After having three kids, I found it hard to lose the weight that I'd gained. I conquered my nibbling and I follow a calorie-controlled diet with exercise. Now I can get back into the clothes I wore before I got married 10 years ago! For a free three-day trial contact Weight Loss Resources on tel: 01733 345592 or www.weightlossresources.co.uk

The Shift Worker - Judith Fair-Rowlands Who Runs 2 Pubs

www.weightlossresources.co.uk

Using the Internet suited my lifestyle far more than going to a slimming club. Often I'd fill in my food diary at 1am when I finished at the pub. As well as helping me to cut back on portions I also follow the website's advice to do more exercise.

I lost 4½ stone on the net

You can get anything on the internet these days… even a diet. Paula Robinson, 38, of Bromley, Kent, lost 4½ stones by joining Weight Loss Resources…

Pick A Right Site

www.weightlossresources.co.uk 5/5

19th April - walk off the pounds by signing up for a six-week walk challenge…

www.weightlossresources.co.uk- A site that allows you to tot up your calories as you go…Woman nutritionist, Angela Dowden

Holiday rep, Kerry Vear-Smyth knows that she can stay slim wherever she is!

I Clicked My Way Slim - Computer savvy Wendy Greenroyd lost nearly 6 stone surfing the Internet.

Lisa Wootten - I'm a yo-yo dieter… I started Weight Loss Resources and it's changed my outlook. I'm eating more healthily…

Sharon Shulver - I need to shed some pounds to start a family. With Weight Loss Resources I'm re-educating myself about my food…

If you're time is limited and you want flexibility… website motivator… Within four weeks of joining WLR I had lost 6lbs Wendy Greenroyd

Type in your details, set a weight loss goal and the programme will work out how you can achieve it. Charts, graphs and diaries make it easy to keep tabs on progress. There's masses of advice on ways to get fit, plus motivational tips to keep you on target.

Leading nutrition doctors now emphasise that managing total calorie consumption is still fundamental to weight loss and health maintenance, but WLR's databases make it easy to calculate energy in versus energy out. 

Try logging on to www.weightlossresources.co.uk - where you can find like-minded people who are happy to offer encouragement … and support by the bucket load

An online calorie and nutrition database where you can keep a food diary and count the calories contained in your own recipes…

A site claiming the UK's biggest online calorie and nutritional database…

Weightlossresources.co.uk has found that dieters who lose weight specifically for a holiday gain more during their vacation than those who take a longer-term approach to controlling their size…

Our winner, Weightlossresources.co.uk, stood out because it is highly interactive and offers a wide range of useful weight loss tools. It allows you to set realistic weight-loss goals and provides support from other members. The programme is based on keeping a food and exercise diary, which is assessed every day. Also on the website are different sections focusing in detail on food and exercise with helpful hints on any problems and pitfalls you may encounter along the way

Try a free trial at www.weightlossresources.co.uk

For all you internet addicts whose bottoms are growing exponentially with the time spent lolling about online, I have found the solution - a weight loss programme that allows you to slim while you surf