A good weight loss programme can be put in place simply by keeping a food diary. Begin by consuming your regular diet for seven days. Write down everything you eat and drink (be honest!) throughout the day. When a week has passed, analyse the contents of your diary. Try to identify any patterns where poor food choices are more evident.

If it’s evident you’re eating fast food meals and too many cakes, then those should be the first to go. It’s possible that you are eating good food – but just too much of it. Whichever it is, your dietary record will help to identify what you need to change.

Then take the next seven days and write down exactly what you’re going to stick to. Think of what you’re going to eat and drink, and what exercise you want to include. Where food is categorised, create a list of prohibited food and ‘treat’ food. And then write down the food you can eat in generous amounts.

As far as alcohol is concerned, keep it to a minimum. Write down when it’s not allowed, and when and how much it is allowed. Cans of soft drinks containing sugar are out. Next comes physical exercise, and whether it’s a walk in the park, or visits to the gym – write it down.

Make a note of your weight before you commence this programme. Assess your progress each week, and adjust where necessary. It’s tempting to get on the scales every few days – don’t. Keep it to once every seven days, first thing in the morning.

With a plan like this, you’re in complete control. It’s a good idea to add useful comments each day to illustrate what’s helpful and what’s not. Mark down which days you completed your proposed exercises. Monitoring your weight and health is so much more manageable with a personal record.

Do keep your expectations reasonable though. At first, it seems to be all effort and no reward! Patience and perseverance are everything. Keeping up your motivation is sometimes tough, so try to dwell on the end result and the joy it will bring!

Don’t beat yourself up if you get off-track – it can be easily reversed with a bit of focus. Maybe you need to modify your plan a little. Additional physical activity can help you catch up. Are there any fitness classes you could attend in the evening?

Recognise your successes. Dieting is much more motivating when you quantify your results and reward yourself for your efforts. Clothes shopping isn’t appropriate ’til you’ve reached your target weight. However, there’s nothing wrong with a theatre trip to celebrate a milestone.

(C) Scott Edwards. Try WeightLossDietWar.com for superb information on diet plans and weight loss dieting.