"By now I’m sure everybody will be looking at those dissuading notes they put on the fridge, asking themselves why they even bothered to make the omnipresent ‘commitment’ to lose weight for the new year.

I’m usually a real planner-I’m talking about anal list-writing, five-year plans and actually sticking to the time slots in my diary-type planning here. Even I had to wake up and smell the (fattening) hot chocolate-there was no point in making a new year’s resolution to lose weight!  I’m sick of all the broken promises I’ve made to myself.

This year will be different, without a ‘dream board’ of magazine cuttings in sight, know why? ‘Cause this time I’ve got reinforcements!  That’s right; no longer will I have to languish suspiciously in the crisp aisle alone. I have a Personal Trainer…not just any Personal Trainer (stop your groaning and hear me out). She is the most realistic ‘health freak’ I’ve ever met."
                                   

"I have this secret sadomasochist within me, who wants to (at least try) and get up at 5am so I can compete with the Beyonces and Jennifer Hudsons of this world. As you can imagine, it never works out as planned. I really don’t know how these stars do it! After a few days of my previous self-inflicted regime I really started to understand why Britney Spears shaved her head (‘oh, the pressure’)!

At the end of the first session with my Trainer, Nicolette (AKA Nico), she gave me homework consisting of one exercise (with repetitions mind you). I was offended! Didn’t she think I could handle it? Did I come across as lazy? Most people would be relieved, but not me! No no, I had to ask ‘is that all?’

Nico explained that there was no point in giving me loads of stuff to do if I wasn’t going to do it. I looked at her dumfounded for a second, and then I stopped. For the first time I agreed that the common sense, realistic and ‘make a change for life’ approach was the way forward.
This year I only have one resolution; to do my best and if I fall down I won’t beat myself up ‘that’s what Nico’s for! At least she’s qualified."