Very few of us are overweight by choice — so why is it that successfully maintaining a healthy weight appears to be one of the greatest challenges in our lives? Having been involved in dealing with nutrition and weight management for a number of years I have found that the diet industry largely depends upon selling new diets to people so that they will buy the latest celebrity book on the subject. But the diet industry thrives upon people failing to lose weight.

Losing weight is not just a case of buying the book. Losing weight is a puzzle — a three-piece puzzle, and you need to put all three pieces in place in order to succeed. The first piece to put in place is Mental Preparation — let’s call it a Mind Journey. The second piece is the Power of Knowledge. Having the information and best research at your fingertips prepares you to insert the final piece as you will be more than ready to take the Practical Steps to Success.

You may have been feeling unhappy about your weight for some time, but have not yet been convinced into taking action. Successful, permanent change only occurs after a period of contemplation. You may be unhappy about your weight but have failed to find the solution because the mind and body have not been working together as a team.

Join me in my Weekly Task

Try To Accumulate More Activity Into Your Day

Why? - Too many labor saving devices are undermining our health and contributing to weight gain.

How? - Jog on the spot or do 10 squats whilst waiting for the kettle to boil.

Recipe of the Week -

Chicken in Tomato, Black Pepper and Coriander Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 chicken thigh quarters, skinned

Juice of — lemon

1 — tsp. salt or to taste

2.5 cm cube of root ginger, roughly chopped

4-5 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped

2 medium onions, roughly chopped

4 tbsp. sunflower or vegetable oil

5 cm piece of cinnamon stick, halved

4 green cardamom pods, bruised

4 cloves

1 tsp. paprika or mild chilli powder

— tsp. ground turmeric

1 tbsp. ground coriander

250g un-drained chopped canned tomatoes

1 tbsp. black peppercorns, coarsely crushed

225 ml lukewarm water

Method

Cut each chicken quarter into 3 pieces. Rub the lemon juice and salt to the chicken and set aside. Meanwhile, puree the ginger, garlic, and onion in a food processor. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. Allow to sizzle gently until cardamom pods have plumped up and add the pureed ingredients. Stir and fry over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes when the onion juices will begin to evaporate. Reduce the heat to low and continue to fry for 3-4 minutes. Add the paprika or chilli powder, turmeric, coriander and tomatoes. Cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes stirring regularly. Add the pepper, chicken, and cook over high heat until chicken is opaque. Add the water, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes. Remove the lid and cook over medium heat for 6-8 minutes until the sauce is reduced. The sauce should resemble a thick paste. Remove from the heat and serve.

Ask Alva

Q At 35 years old, I consider myself a relatively young man, but I am alarmed at the possibility that I may be becoming prematurely bald. I reckon that I take pretty good care of myself, my hair has started to thin on top and I would appreciate your good advice.

A To a degree, hair loss can be inherited from your mother or father’s family. Genes also have a say in what kind of hair we have, and whether or not it will start to recede, but stress and other conditions can also play a part. Half of all men experience hair loss after they reach 25 years. High levels of the male hormone testosterone in the blood is also largely to blame, so if you are losing your hair, you can also be extra confident, as it is an indication that you are many and virile. I have a fact sheet that deals with these issues, which you can obtain free by emailing [email protected]