The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl

Two Fit Chicks Episode 10 - It's All In Your Head

Woohoo! There's a new episode of Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone today.

Topics include body image, kids and weight issues and deprivation vs moderation.

» Check out Episode 10 over at the Two Fit Chicks website

Sermon on the Blog

Last week I got emails from three different people saying they'd dug up an entry from four years ago called Things I Have Learned.

I re-read it myself and found it very reassuring, like the Ghost of Shauna's Past telling me DUDE we've been here before so don't you worry bout a thing!

In light of the aforementioned mushy brain I thought I would re-post it today for the new-school readers.

2006 Disclaimer:  This is not smug lecturing or advice or a dietary Sermon on the Mount. It's just a wee list of lessons learned over the last five years. And so many of em took almost all that time to learn. I'm a bit slow.

Disclaimer Update 2010:  Yep. Still learnin'!

• Laugh at yourself. Especially when you screw things up!
• Don't compare your progress to other bloggers, instead be inspired by them (ie. steal their ideas!)
• Try to reduce the self-loathing. I'm not saying you have to look in the mirror and chant, "YOU ARE A WINNER!", but it really doesn't help to stand around yelling at your thighs.
• Remember that the weight loss industry exists to make money, whether it's Weight Watchers or Slimming Magazine or the CSIRO or Dr Gillian McKeith. Even though they all help in their own ways, they don't have all the answers and they really want you to buy the Choco Crisp Bars or send away for the Pilates DVD. Take bits and pieces from what they tell you and clobber it together to make your own way of doing things. Don't let anything be a substitute for thinking for yourself.
• Don't put things off until you Get Skinny. Try something crazy and new. If you fail, just don't blog about it!
• Deal with The Past.
• Look at the Big Picture or look at the Little Picture. Whichever is easiest to stomach at the time!
• Don't disappear up your own arse. Losing weight seems to bring a lot of introspection and lightbulb moments, but don't let this journey take over your life.
• Accept that you are moody, inconsistent and full of contradictions. What worked for you yesterday may shit you to tears tomorrow, and for no reasonable reason!
• Never eat lentils before you do squats or lunges.
• Just because you think everything is about your weight, don't assume everyone else sees it that way. Often other people are much better at seeing past your fat than you are.
• Just because you lose weight doesn't mean your old fears and problems will disappear. Example: If you were scared of rollercoasters when you were 350lb you may still shit your pants at the thought of them 160 pounds later!
• Fage Total Yogurt is the best thing to come out of Greece since Plato.
• Things won't change overnight. It takes time, trial and error to forge a healthy lifestyle and figure out what works for you. The difficulty of this task increases by tenfold increments depending on how many times per week you used to visit McDonalds Drive Thru.
• Don't let the fear of loose skin, belly rolls or flabby arms stop you. Do you think Oprah worried about her bingo wings? No. She just flap-flap-flapped and flew away to world domination!
• If you're still worried about your flabby arms, move to Scotland. You can get away with long sleeves for about 364 days a year.
• Even when you royally screw up – over and over and over again – you can pick yourself up again. As long you never stop believing you will get there in the end.

Excuse me, my brain is full

At last I can report that I'm backing up my words with actions, hoo bloody ray! As mentioned month I'm tackling the big issues instead of getting distracted by surface things (e.g. my lard).

Turns out dealing with big issues is really bloody hard. I'm making lots of connections and while there's initial smugness when you figure something out, it's swiftly followed by deflation, like a punch in the guts, as you see how you let these things affect your behaviour and decisions and whatnot over time. I want to curl up under my desk and hide just thinking about it. Urgh.

I've been trying to write an entry for a week but my brain is mush. So I am just going to give up for the moment. In summary: life is really bloody good. I may not be able to string a sentence together but the sun is shining and I'm lucky to have wise and hilarious friends and Mad Men is on tonight. Giddyup!

Now the men pay attention to me again

The Before and After photo thieves are at it yet again - this time I'm flogging diet pills in Germany!

Thank you to all the lovely German and Swiss readers who got in touch to let me know I've been popping up on GMX, a big Hotmail-ish site. With help of a legal eagle I've contacted the company and asked them in grand paragraphs of German to just bloody stop it.

I better hear back soon otherwise we'll be forced to unleash the threatening ping-pong kitties again!

There's quite a few different versions of this ad. Apparently one claims I'm happier and have more confidence and another translates to "I lost 35 Kilo. Now the men pay attention to me again!". Once again I've had nothing to do with these adverts and did not take any pills unless you count the occasional gobful of M&Ms which didn't exactly speed up the process :)

Foam! Roller!

This big stick here is the best £15 I've spent in a long time. It's a foam roller, and many of you lovely folk were nagging me to try one... about three years ago. I do listen to you, there's just a slight delay in putting things into action.

If you're unfamiliar with foam rollers, they are another cross-over from the world of physiotherapy, like stability balls and exercise bands. They're just a cylinder made of high-density foam. Mine is a metre tall and 15cm in diameter. You can use them for all sort of things like stretching, massage and stability exercises. Just Google "foam roller exercises"; there's gazillions of them. Or if you're immature, you can simply use your roller to whack your loved ones on the arse.

I had to get one after I visited my friend Jillian and was whinging about my "golf ball", this horrid knot of tension that I frequently get below my right shoulder blade. Being a physiotherapist Jillian whipped out her trusty foam roller and gave me a quick tutorial. OH BABY. I could not help letting out a rather guttural moan... it really hit the spot and ironed out the pesky golf ball. I bought from Amazon the next week. Turns out it is also fab on my crappy hamstrings, just like many of you said it would be.

To emphasise my love! of! this! thing! I tried to arrange it with my stability ball into an exclamation mark, but the ball kept rolling away. I flipped the pic in Photoshop instead. It looks more like one of those fancy pepper grinders, but I think next time I get into an argument with Dr G I will assemble my giant exclamation mark on the living room floor. For nothing says SO THERE! quite like an exclamation mark made out of physiotheraphy equipment.

Two Fit Chicks Episode 09 - Food Glorious Food

Just a quickie to say there's a new episode of Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone today.

Our topic is Food Glorious Food and we are joined by the legend that is nutritionist Kathryn Elliott of Limes and Lycopene. There's talk of Vitamin D, whey protein, tutus and one-star reviews.

This one was a real cack to record and edit so hope you enjoy! I only wish I could pissfart around with silly sound effects in Garageband all day instead of working in the real world.

» Check out Episode 9 over at the Two Fit Chicks website

Friday Link Feast #5

• Daily Mile - you might call it a Facebook for exercise. I'm using it more to record workouts than succumbing to the timesuck of yet another social media thingy. Geeks rejoice: it makes a groovy graph! of your weekly activity - it's motivating see those bursts of movement add up.
• Orangette's Oatmeal Pancakes - I am swoony fan of Molly Wizenburg, least of all because she is a redhead and I feel it is important to support your own kind. I'm trying to introduce a Civilised Sunday Breakfast routine at Crooked House, especially since we have an actual table now! (scored free from a friend who was about to donate it charity!). These pancakes have been the triumph so far. I used less butter and sugar and added blueberries to the batter... yummo. Cold leftovers festooned with almond butter and sliced bananas were also smashing.
• Matar Paneer - I had a random craving for both green peas and paneer cheese last week and this curry recipe was Google's solution. I cut the oil down to a tablespoon, stir-fried the paneer at the start to give it nice crispy edges, added a tin of tomatoes to bulk it up, and substituted about a quarter cup of ground almonds for the cream and yogurt. Very tasty and super quick.
• The Thrifty Gardener  - Alison Lewis has only five videos on her YouTube but they charmed my pants off. She tells you how to hunt down snails, repurpose random objects and most helpfully, How To Grow Potatoes In A Dust Bin. Totally going to do that!
• Dietgirl Facebook page - they call these things Fan Pages but it feels rather pathetic to say BE MY FAN PLZ. So think of it as a place to chat to fellow Dietgirl visitors, ask questions and read mini updates and links when writing a Proper Blog Entry seems far too taxing :)

Mojo Rising

I feel like a bear emerging from my cave after a long winter, rubbing my eyes and trying to adjust to the light. It's only mid-February but it's Spring in my brain. In my day job we plan things months and months in advance (we're already thinking about 2011), so I'm ready for bare legs and buckets of berries, dammit.

For awhile there I was stuck in the skankiest depths of the Big D, when you don't care about anything and just truly soak in it. But I think I've finally turned a little corner these past couple of weeks. It's been about 100 years since I've written a proper entry after all that selling out, but the internet curfew approaches so I'll blast out a few dot points!

• I'm exercising regularly again. Doing less at the gym and more at home was a brilliant idea. Much less running around.
  
• I did a Zumba class! I've been pining for Body Jam since I left Edinburgh five years (!!) ago and while it wasn't quite as zingy as Body Jam, it was ace and I can't wait to go shake my butt again. We danced to Spice Up Your Life! How can you go wrong!?
  
• I've maintained my weight for the past month and that feels like a triumph, I tells ya.
  
• I know a few people are going to email and say But What About Your Fat. It would be quite easy to throw all my attention into losing 20 pounds. Obsessing over weight would be much easier than tackling the bigger issues. Especially when you're 32 years old and any weight gain causes people to jump to conclusions. Dude I may have been eating for two for awhile there, but not for the usual reasons!
  
  
• But being 32 also means I am too old and curmudgeonly for that dieting crap. I don't want to swing from the extreme of not caring about my body to freaking out about it. I just need to work back up to my healthy habits again, the sane and do-able ones that kept me happily in size 14 jeans for a good long while before it went to pot last year.
  
• So as well as working on the big issues I'm working on my health one meal at a time. First I got my breakfasts back on track and now lunch has been reformed! No more cheesy baked potatoes and back to the kickarse salads. Currently on a puy lentil bender!

Dudes I have to insert some cheese here. I feel like I've been on ice for years, stowed away from society in a tube like Mel Gibson in that movie. Except marginally less annoying. Now I'm defrosting and the world has colour again. Friends and family and blogging comrades are lighting things up at every turn. I need to cut down on the Chunky KitKats but overall things are on the up. Thank you for sticking round!

One Fit Bloke

A mighty cheer goes out to Kepa, the lovely young lad who christened our podcast Two Fit Chicks And A Microphone. He hit his goal weight this week. How do you like these stats?

Then: 229 kgs (504.8 lbs)
Now: 99.5 kgs (219.4 lbs)
Weight lost: 129.5 kgs (285.4 lbs)

Check out his video:

Comments are closed here to encourage you to scoot over to his blog and say WELL DONE! For the lad is a deadset legend! And maybe wish him and his sweetheart Merry a happy Valentine's day while you're there :)

(New entry tomorrow! Woohoo!)

Let those with boobs rejoice - 10% @lessbounce discount for DG readers

11 Feb - Another update from LessBounce:

I was wondering if you would like to let your ladies know about our "Sports Bra Amnesty". Basically, we send old sports bras to Oxfam's Wastesavers and this entitles customers to £3 off their next item.

I thought they may find it useful, as they may be exercising a lot and changing shape! And this is a good way to help with the cost of ordering new bras.

Each returned bra is worth £3 off the price of your next item, you can only trade in one old bra against a new bra. The easiest method is to return your sports bra with your new order. Please send back to:

Sports Bra Amnesty,
The Old Bank,
High St,
Netheravon,
Salisbury SP4 9PQ

A wee follow-up from the Sell Out. When LessBounce learned how many of you clamored for the Enell Sports Bra they offered up a February discount:

We have set up a 10% discount code for your ladies who didn't win the prize to use for this month!  The code is DG10 and this can be entered in to the coupon code box when ordering online or quoted over the telephone. Should they experience any difficulties using the code, they can enter it in the "How did you hear about us?" field and we will apply it manually.

The discount applies to all products, not just the Enell, for February 2010. LessBounce ship worldwide* and have sports bras for racks of all sizes - not just the wildly generous ones!

Regarding the Enell: As many of you pointed out it is pricey, but it's a great example of the Cost Per Wear principle. I brought two Enells in 2004, which would cost a total of £86 at 2010 prices. Even less with the DG discount. They've been in rotation for five years and still going strong.

Accounting for lazy periods, each bra is worn at least once a week, so 2 uses per week in total. 104 uses per year; 520 uses over 5 years. This equates to £0.16p per wear! With the minor bonus of five years of pain-free cardio. You can find a Cost Per Wear calculator on the Skinny Cow website, by the way.

* £7.50 for Europe and £10.00 for the rest of the world

Note: This is purely a community service announcement. I'm not affiliated with LessBounce and have not received any dosh nor free brassieres!

Sell Out winners!

As mentioned on the podcast today, I'm glad there exists such a thing as a Random Number Generator, so deciding the 9th Birthday Sell Out winners is entirely out of my hands. I only have to feel guilty that there can be so few. I wish I had 403 sports bras to give away instead of one, to avoid disappointing 804 boobs!

Here are the winners, listed by comment number and name.

• Rude Health porridge and muesli feast - Main prize: 27 Jane, Runners-up - 10 helenbee, 14 Margaret, 52 Sam, 64 Diane, 103 Kaz
• An Honest Kitchen magazine - 92 ladyloo, 100 dunja, 135 Alison Moy
• Weight Loss Resources membership - 18 Flossie
• Enell Sports Bra from LessBounce - 6 Debbie
• SuperJam 100% Pure Fruit jams - 36 Alison Whitfield
• The Spark book from SparkPeople.com - 78 Lisa S, 94 Karin, 103 Just a girl, 234 Tina
• Nakd Uber Prezzie Box - 48 Lizzy, 76 Lindsey
• Dorset Cereals Flakes & Porridge  - 6 Stephoodle, 25 Liz Wx, 52 Sarah
• $100 Cathe Downloads gift voucher - 137 Lucinda

Congratulations all you lucky ducks! Check your email for details on how to claim your prize and please reply to let me know you've received the message. You might need to check your Spam filters.

A huge thank you to everyone who entered and to all the very generous Sell Out sponsors.

Now we're all done with selling out, so alas it's back to me crapping on and on without any prospect of loot :)

Two Fit Chicks Episode 08 - Your Questions Answered II

There's a brand spankin' new episode of Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone today. And as a very special bonus I actually hit the RECORD button and didn't screw up the balance so you'll hear our dulcet tones in stereo. Hurrah for progress.

Today's episode is called Your Questions Answered II, as Carla and I are, quelle surprise, answering some of your questions! Self sabotage, injuries and food journalling. And a few tangents. And me puzzling over my missing dumbbell.

» Check out Episode 8 over at the Two Fit Chicks website

PS. Thanks everyone who entered the DG Sell Out - I'll draw the winners tonight.

Sell Out Summary plus Cardio Coach winners

Man oh man all this pimping is exhausting. Thanks for all your entries! That's all the Sell Out prizes announced now, and aside from Cardio Coach, you can still enter up until Monday 1 February  Wednesday 3 February* 10.00 GMT.

Here's a summary of what's up for grabs:

• Day 2: Rude Health porridge and muesli feast - UK only
• Day 3: An Honest Kitchen magazine - worldwide
• Day 4: Weight Loss Resources membership - UK only
• Day 5: Enell Sports Bra from LessBounce - worldwide
• Day 6: SuperJam 100% Pure Fruit jams - UK only
• Day 7: The Spark book from SparkPeople.com - worldwide
• Day 8: Nakd Uber Prezzie Box and Dorset Cereals Flakes & Porridge - UK only
• Day 9: $100 Cathe Downloads gift voucher - worldwide!

If you'd like to enter please leave a comment on the corresponding entry of the prize. Not on this entry or the terms and conditions entry.

The Day 1 Cardio Coach prize has closed and the random number generator has spoken! The winners were 23 Sheila, 25 Ana, 49 SK, 78 asydfoodie, 109 Ellen K, 131 carrie, 167 FitFunk, 189 Briana, 190 Katie, 194 Fiona. You've all been notified by email.

For those who missed out, you can take advantage of the 25% discount consolation prize if you order by January 31. Just enter the code dietgirl at the checkout. Workouts are already nicely priced at $14.95 USD and even better with the discount.

Also for those who asked:

1. You can test drive Sean's accent on the Cardio Coach website.
2. Yes that is Sean himself trying to douse his hotness with water in the picture!  

* UPDATE: I thought it was Monday then realised I'd put Wednesday on the contest posts. Still a few more days to enter!

WIN! $100 @cathe Download voucher - DG 9th Birthday Sell Out Day 9

It's the final day of the Dietgirl 9th Birthday Sell Out and today's prize is a biggun!

The prize: One $100 USD voucher for Cathe Downloads.

Available to readers from: Worldwide

What the heck is it?
Home fitness guru Cathe Friedrich recently released her entire 150+ workout catalogue in digital format, so you can watch your downloads on any computer or video-enabled mobile device, like an iPod.

Why do you dig it?
If you've been reading this blog for any length of time you may recall I like working out from home and Cathe is my favourite loungeroom arsekicker. I wrote a comprehensive review of Cathe Downloads back in November, so you can read all about it here, including a list of my favourite Cathe workouts. Or you might want to step back to the beginning and download some Step N Motion, circa 1989!

Ye Olde Cathe

Leave a comment below to enter! This prize is open to readers anywhere and everywhere. Entries close Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 12.00 GMT. Winner will be chosen at random.

Check out the other prizes on offer here.
Click here to view the terms and conditions for the prize draw.

WIN! @dorsetcereals flake and porridge frenzy - DG 9th Birthday Sell Out Day 8, Part II

We have a second prize today as this one came a wee bit late to the party. It's UK only, but hold your grumbles... 6 out of the 10 half of prizes have been worldwide! Tomorrow's 10th and final Sell Out is all inclusive :)

The prize: Dorset Cereals Fruity Porridge sachets and Tasty Low Fat Flakes

Available to readers from: UK only.

MOAR OATS! You can never have too many oats.

What the heck is it?
Dorset Cereals are another great wee UK company hailing from the rolling hills of Dorset, obviously. They make delicious porridge, muesli, granola, bars and slices all stuffed full of tasty fruit, nuts and seeds. Today's prize is a big box of their brand new Tasty Low Fat Flakes, a marvelous mingling of apples, cranberries, cherries and raspberries with barley and wheat flakes. There's also a box of Fruity Porridge Simple Sachets so you're 2 minutes away from hot porridge, jazzed up with either apple and raisin or raspberry and cranberry.

Why do you dig it?
They make tasty goods without any funny business. There are no polysyllabic ingredients on the box. I particularly like their Fruit Nuts and Seeds bars for an arvo snack - toasted flakes, fruit, nuts and seeds, held together with butter, finely chopped nuts and agave syrup. Just 136 calories a pop.

There are 3 prize packs to give away, consisting of a box of the new Tasty Low Fat Flakes and 8 sachets of Fruity Porridge. Leave a comment below to enter! Sorry, UK residents only. Entries close Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 10.00 GMT.

Check out the other prizes on offer here.
Click here for terms and conditions of the prize draw.

WIN! Uber Prezzie Box from Natural Balance Foods - DG 9th Birthday Sell Out Day 8

The prize: Two lucky gits will win an Uber Prezzie Box of tasty treats from Natural Balance Foods.

Available to readers from: UK only.

What the heck is it?
Natural Balance Foods are "a little young British company dedicated to promoting health, humour and helpfulness. This means we make really delicious, natural nibbles that taste good and do good." This prize contains 20 of their finest treats:

• 3 Trek bars: Mixed Berry, Cocoa Brownie & Peanut & Oat
• 2 Trek Flapjacks: Oat Crunch & Cherry Crunch
• 3 Nakd bars: Berry Cheeky, Apple Pie & Cocoa Loco
• 4 Nakd Nibbles: Berry Cheeky, Apple Pie, Cocoa Loco & Banana Bread
• 4 Nakd Raisins: Cherry, Orange, Lemon & Pineapple
• 4 Nakd Nudies Gluten Free: Cashew Cookie, Cocoa Orange, Ginger Bread, Pecan Pie

Why do you dig it?
I was looking for a UK alternative to Lara Bars and had even tried making my own by blasting dates and cashews in the food processor. All I got was sludge and a smoking applicance. Then I found Nakd bars in a health food shop. They are ace for a 3pm snack or a great energy boost on a long walk. My absolute favourite is the Nakd Nudies in Cocoa Orange - it tastes like a squishy Terry's Chocolate Orange but it's just dates, cashews, raisins and cocoa and a hint of natural flavour. And only 130 calories, bonus.

There are 2 Uber Prezzie Boxes to be won. Simply leave a comment below to enter! UK residents only. Entries close Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 12.00 GMT. Winner will be drawn at random.

Check out the other prizes on offer here.
Click here to view the terms and conditions for the prize draw.

WIN! The Spark book from @sparkpeople - DG 9th Birthday Sell Out Day 7

The prize: Four readers will receive a copy of The Spark, courtesy of SparkPeople.com.

Available to readers from: Worldwide.

What the heck is it?
The Spark is a book from the experts who created SparkPeople.com. It distills the wealth of information, plans and tips on the website into handy book form. Best of all it draws on the wisdom of "successful losers" from the site with inspiring before and after photos. The book is out now in the US and out in the UK from tomorrow.

Why do you dig it?
I was invited to read an advance copy of the book last year and now you can find my verdict on TheSpark's website:

How novel to see my floating head next to a quote that I actually said, as opposed to all those fake ass acai berry testimonials!

There are 4 copies of The Spark to be won. Simply leave a comment below to enter! Entries close Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 12.00 GMT. Winner will be drawn at random.

Check out the other prizes on offer here.
Click here to view the terms and conditions for the prize draw.

WIN! SuperJam 100% pure fruit jams - DG 9th Birthday Sell Out Day 6

The prize: One reader shall winneth six jars of SuperJam 100% pure fruit jam, courtesy of the jam man himself, Fraser Doherty.

Available to readers from: UK only.
But read on, globetrotters, if you like a good enterpreneurial tale!

What the heck is it?
SuperJam is a range of 100% pure fruit jams; sweetened with grape juice and made using Super Fruits, such as blueberries and cranberries. Nothing artificial is added and SuperJam is much lower in sugar and calories than regular jams.

SuperJam was created by Scottish teenager Fraser Doherty, after being taught to make jam using his Gran’s secret recipes at the age of fourteen. From humble beginnings, the company now supplies major UK supermarkets and is even included in a museum exhibit as an example of an ‘Iconic Scottish Food Brand’.

He also runs huge SuperJam tea parties all over the country for elderly people,wth live music, dancing and of course scones, tea and jam. You gotta take your hat off to this guy. See here you cranky grown-ups, not all the youths are doing nowt but drinking and spewing up kebabs in the street!

Why do you dig it?
Because it's Scottish! And it's a fantastic story. And the labels are groovy. Oh yeah, and the jam is good. It's sweet but in a fruity, not sugary way. I love a blob of it in my porridge or on toast with almond butter. It is also magic on a freshly baked scone. Mmm mmm.

Simply leave a comment below to enter! Sorry, UK residents only. Entries close Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 12.00 GMT. Winner will be drawn at random.

Check out the other prizes on offer here.
Click here to view the terms and conditions for the prize draw.

WIN! Enell sports bra from @lessbounce - DG 9th Birthday Sell Out Day 5

The prize: One Enell sports bra in the colour and size of your choice, courtesy of LessBounce.com.

Available to readers from: Worldwide

What the heck is it?
The Enell sports bra allows the large chested lass to exercise without discomfort. It may not be the sexiest garment, but your boobs will not go anywhere in this thing!

Stern expression may or may not enhance your workout.

Why do you dig it?
Before I got my Enell I couldn't do high impact cardio without pain. I'd hug my chest when we did jumping kicks in Body Combat class so things wouldn't jiggle. But that all changed in 2004 when I strapped myself into this beast and found I could finally gallumph around to my hearts content, pain-free.

I bought my Enell from LessBounce.com, who kindly donated this prize. The company was started by fitness instructor and personal trainer Selaine Saxby when she couldn't find a good sports bra locally. Now they stock sports bras suitable for all sports for chests of all shapes and sizes. They have great customer service, a handy bra finder on the homepage and they ship worldwide. You and your boobs cannae go wrong!

Simply leave a comment below to enter! This prize is open to readers anywhere and everywhere. NB the bra is designed for the more generous bosom, 32C and up. Click here for the measurement chart.

Entries close Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 12.00 GMT. Winner will be drawn at random.

Check out the other prizes on offer here.
Click here to view the terms and conditions for the prize draw.

WIN! Weight Loss Resources membership - DG 9th Birthday Sell Out Day 4

The prize: Courtesy of Weight Loss Resources, one winner will receive:

• 6 months membership to Weight Loss Resources
• a Food & Exercise Daily Diary
• a copy of The Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible 2010

Available to readers from: UK only.

What the heck is it?
Weight Loss Resources is a cracking set of online tools to help you bust the lard. Features include:

• The biggest UK food database
• Food diary and analysis tools
• Calorie requirements calculator
• Goal setting facilities
• Monitoring of weight, body fat and BMI
• Reports and charts on weight and nutrition
• Add your own recipes and automatically calculate nutritional information
• Exercise activity database
• Members forum
• News, features and tips including a monthly column by me!

Why do you dig it?
I've been a member since 2004 but didn't really put the site to good use until early 2005 when I was in a desperate rush to fit into my wedding dress. I found the site to be a no-nonsense way to track my food and goals. You enter your height and weight, you decide how much you want to lose each week (from 0.5 -2 pounds) and it tells you how many calories a day to eat. It also tallies up carbs, protein, fat and fibre.

You can also run little reports which appeals to my inner geek - I sleep better knowing precisely how many grams of apples I've eaten in a week, ho ho ho. Best of all it has a comprehensive UK food database - I've tried other sites but most of them are US-based so you have to manually enter foods. Only thing missing from WLR would be a dedicated iPhone app, although the site works fine on a mobile browser!

One winner will receive 6 months membership to WLR plus the Calorie & Carb Bible and journal.
Leave a comment below to enter! Sorry, UK residents only. Entries close Wednesday 3 February 2010 at 10.00 GMT. Winner will be chosen at random.

Check out the other prizes on offer here.
Click here to view the terms and conditions for the prize draw.