[bindi]

Welcome to Diva Chick, yay another chickie on the forums! :sm_headba

Big Waity, I know what you mean about the weetbix thing. I've had to consciously cut down my portion sizes, but instead of three big fatty meals a day plus chocolate, I now am trying to eat something small every two hours. This apparently is the way to weight loss heaven.

Now at first I thought this would be easy, but in reality it's rather difficult! Two hourly feeds come along quite quickly. I feel I've just finished my banana when it's time for tomatoes on spelt sourdough toast (no butter of course).

There is so much information out there on weight loss, it is really difficult to decide what works for you personally. I have tried everything. Weight Watchers worked for me a few years ago and I lost 16kg (and still had 15kg to go). But it took me 9 months, whereas everyone else in the group took a third of the time. I worked so hard, denying myself everything possible, and I felt it was unfair that they lost so much so quickly on the same diet I was on.

So after a particularly stressful time I went off WW and back onto the all you can eat pizza diet.

Then I read Dr Phil's book, and I tell you that is inspiration served with an emotional rollercoaster. It shows WHY you eat what you eat, and how your self talk really affects you and dooms you before you start.

My husband has been on the Blood Type Diet with enormous success. It is stunning how much weight he has lost. But you see, we were both big people to begin with so he's still big. But he's gone from a size 6XL to an XL since last year by diet changes (granted, they are MAJOR diet changes!!!) and a bit of exercise.

I am also a vegetarian and whenever I pick up the magazine New Vegetarian I get the beam of Weight Loss Religion, shining down on my head. All the nasties in fish, meat and processed foods just make me wanna puke when I read about it.

So, all I can suggest is read, read, read. Men's Health is a brilliant magazine with loads of information and the latest health tips (as well as some damn hot guys - it's called Bindiporn!).

The last hint I can give you, that works really well for me, is to EAT SLOWLY. Most overweight people just gulp down the food without really tasting it. I have found that the simple task of loading the fork with a small amount, putting it in my mouth, then putting the knife and fork down, works well. I chew slowly, enjoying the flavours in my mouth. When I have swallowed that bit of food only then do I pick up the knife and fork again. Because it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to register that it's full, I find that I don't eat as much because I feel full pretty quickly.

Good luck, keep us informed!