CRANKING THINGS UP

Weight loss is not mysterious. However any program is packaged it comes down to a simple principle - you burn more calories than you take in. Whether you do that using the latest "scientific" diet, by drinking a shake at midday, swearing off carbs or having nasty meals delivered to your door, it's the same bottom line.

Both aspects need attention - diet and exercise.

On the exercise side of things, this not only needs to be sustained but it must also be challenging to some degree. I've come a long way from the time when I started activity by walking a mile a day, but I admit it has become comfortable to settle.

So last week I started running a shorter distance - 5 miles instead of 6 - while focusing on the speed of the run. Now I'm no sprinter, but on one of my five runs last week I established a time that I will be working on beating this week. So I'm pushing myself which makes running hard work, but satisfying.

Keep challenging yourself. Don't settle.

I'M BAACK

I'm sitting watching the opening episode of the new season of The Biggest Loser. The combined weights of some of these teams is pretty amazing. But as I look at the numbers, I recall that Gill and I weighed a combined total of over 600lbs something like six years ago.

Her amazing weight loss achievement is often lost in the fact that I pulled a considerably larger number and now work for Weight Watchers, but she has done incredibly well.

Weight loss is not a mysterioust skill. With the right approach, you can do it in a thousand different ways. With some programs it's down to weird eating ideas, while others try to baffle you with science.

Losing weight comes down to three simple skills -

1. Eat well
2. Be active
3. Repeat

I am totally sold on Weight Watchers because it provides a framework to not only follow those three simple principles, but to live with them and maintain weight loss.

The new PointsPlus program is a proven winner. So if you're not on board yet, come see me at a local WW center - very soon!