It is always a good idea to think in terms of good health rather than being obsessed with body shape. Your first thought should be to treat your body with the greatest of respect - no amount of money can buy good health. It is a gift that must be treasured.

Your body needs sustenance from all the food groups in order to thrive, and depriving your body of one of the main groups is bound to have repercussions later on. I get many letters from young girls who are unhappy with their height and body weight and who want to give up eating carbohydrates because they believe this will help them to lose weight. Anyone who takes a food group away from their diet is putting their body under stress and they will start to feel very tired, and may even suffer from palpitations. If you cut out a valuable food group, you can lose weight, but it is likely to be lost for only a short period. So, it is not worth the risk of damaging your body. If you cut out carbohydrates and feast on protein, you are going to end up with high cholesterol that leads to fatty deposits in the arteries, which could lead to heart problems.

A balanced diet is also very important. As your body grows older, you need to keep your immune system strong to ward off any diseases. If you want to lose weight; take exercise; cut down on unhealthy snacks; and eat a healthy breakfast followed by one main meal and one light meal each day. Eat from all the main food groups. If you would like a copy of my Healthy Eating Guide, email me at [email protected]

Join Me in My Weekly Task

Walk at Least Once a Week

Why? Walking is an excellent way to get fit, especially when you are just starting out and it is a suitable activity for anyone, young or old. It’s great for relaxation and helps you sleep better.

How? Decide to walk around a nearby park once a week. Start at a gentle pace, build up to a brisk pace, and then slow down again toward the end of the walk. If you really want to tone up your legs, walk barefoot in the sand.

Recipe of the Week

Greek Salad

Serves 6

Ingredients

500 g spinach leaves, washed and torn into pieces, tough stems discarded

340 g Mixed green salad

2 tomatoes, cut into wedges

1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced

110 g pitted black olives, thinly sliced

110 g Feta cheese, crumbled

180 ml (190 g) fat-free Italian dressing

50 g cheese & garlic croutons

Method

Combine first 7 ingredients in a salad bowl and toss. Pour dressing over salad just before serving. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss. Serve with croutons.

Tip of the Week

Stressed Out? Don’t Take it out on Food!

People who eat when under stress tend to have a higher body mass index (BMI) than others who do not eat under stress. BMI is a measurement of weight that is corrected for one’s height. Stress-driven eaters consume more unhealthy foods, including sausages, and chocolate. Instead of reaching for food when you are under stress, try another form of stress relief, such as taking a walk.

Ask Alva

I manage to exercise with your Mini Morning Workout every day, and I can do sixteen repetitions of each exercise, which makes me feel really proud of myself. I would like to start going to the gym but I feel shy about going alone, as I am still overweight. P.S.

Well done for exercising every day. If you can’t find someone to go to the gym with you, go alone! Most people do! Exercising is your time to relax — you don’t have time to chat, and it can be distracting. Anyway, you will meet many friendly people at the gym who will all have similar aims to you. Be brave, and go. If anyone else would like a copy of my Mini-Morning Workout, they can e-mail me at [email protected]. Alva