When we go to a diet club or organisation we are working with other people's rules, we give them responsibility for our eating plan, what we can eat and what we can't. We feel guilty if we eat something 'bad' and if we have lost weight we look to them to give us credit and make us feel good about ourselves. By doing this we are not taking responsibility for our own choices about food and this is why it doesn't work long term.

As soon as we have lost the weight we gladly revert to old eating habits and then the weight comes back.

Don't Say Diet is about empowerment, I give you the help you need to be able to do it on your own. I don't tell you what to eat, I tell you how to eat and how to make mindful choices about food.

Sometimes I have had clients who have gone off track, not followed the six steps and have gained weight they feel ashamed about coming for their next session. I have heard them say that they would come back when they had lost some weight. To me this is like going to the doctor when we feel a bit better. The time to come to me is when you feel you have lost your way and I can guide you back.

The diet mentality is hard to shift, we easily feel guilty about food and this is one of the main obstacles I face with my clients. Once we realise that we are responsible and in sole charge of the choices we make around food hen we are free. It's very liberating and it works.

Dieting often messes us up when it comes to eating out. We feel we should not go because we will over eat and gain weight, or have guilt over going and eating too much. This comes from depriving ourselves when we are on a diet.

If you think about it, eating out is a state of mind, it's no different from eating in, just different food, served up to us by a stranger. Its all about choice and responsibility.

I firmly suggest that you take the opportunity to eat out and not put it off until you have lost your weight. Life is for living and the time is now.

Firstly know that you can have what you want, there is no point in going out to eat something you think you SHOULD eat. Decide which course you like best and make sure you have room for that. Don't fill up on food that you are not that bothered about. If you love your main course then keep the other two courses light. Keep filling food like carbs to a minimum, have a taste of everything, but save yourself for your favourite. Don't allow yourself to get bloated. It's a lovely feeling when you come home from a meal and just feel satisfied. It means you took control of food, not the other way around.

The best way to find out why you are over weight is to write down everything you eat, everything you do and the times of day these things take place.

For instance:

Note the time you get up, what you eat and drink in the morning.

What you might snack on mid morning or what drinks you have.

The time you eat lunch and what you drink - also if you are moving around much or sitting.

What happens in the afternoon, do you snack, do you have a school run and if so do you eat before or after or both?

What time do you have dinner and what do you eat drink? Do you have alcohol any nights of the week?

Do you exercise in the evenings, go to classes or go for a walk? Do you eat again before bedtime and what time do you go to bed?

Once you've answered these questions (honestly) you will be able to see your patterns emerging and be able to start to see where you can make meaningful changes which will help you to lose weight.

I’m excited to tell you that I am now starting up Home Group Sessions. These sessions are run from the comfort of your own home for up to 10 people. If you and your friends are interested in losing weight with Don’t Say Diet but would rather not have a one to one session, then this is a great way to lose weight all together. It will provide mutual support as everyone will be able to encourage each other along the way.

The session will include:

An introduction to what Don’t Say Diet is all about

Weighing and measuring

A Don’t Say Diet personal diary for everyone

A different encouraging talk topic each time

Tips and techniques

Relaxing feel good visualisation exercise

Reduced price to any personal one to one sessions

Personal Sessions – One to One

Being over weight is never about the food and these personal one to one sessions are tailored to your individual needs, to help you to clear old eating patterns and habits. It also goes deeper into issues around food that have been hindering your weight loss.

These sessions include:

One to one guidance as above

Weighing and measuring

Your personal Don’t Say Diet Diary

Tips and techniques to help you

Relaxing feel good visualisation exercise and CD

When you lose weight and drop down to the next size in clothes, it's very tempting to hold on to that larger size "just in case". I think this is a big mistake. You are telling yourself that you don't believe you will be able to maintain this weight, that you will creep back up and your large clothes are your "safety net". Much of this mentality comes from yoyo dieting, you don't expect it to last and being the size you want to be is a temporary thing.

With Don't Say Diet, you will be losing weight for the last time, I help you to release those old beliefs about weight loss. You can clear out those large size clothes along with your old ways of thinking, because you won't be needing them. The techniques I use help you to let go of the past and move whole heartedly into the now and a future where you are in control.