RECENTLY I met an old school friend. I was amazed to find that over the last 25 years my vivacious, cheery slim friend had ballooned to a size 20 and was wearing a frumpy tent of a dress. Her confidence and self-esteem were low and she seemed unsure of herself. I felt shocked by the change but weight gain can happen to anyone anytime. Being a busy mother of five gorgeous children she had fallen into poor eating habits. She had very sporty, active boys and she got into the habit of cooking and sharing huge meals.

The demands of a busy household had left her with little time for herself. She had not prioritized her own needs but looked after her children, her husband and her home. One day she looked in the mirror and realized that she had become like so many other mothers at the school gate wearing baggy clothes to cover bulges rather than dressing to look good.

This can happen to any woman in the modern world as there are many pressures, especially on working mothers who have little time to care for themselves. In many ways women’s lib has not done women as many favours as they would have us believe. We now strive not only to have it all, but to do it all too. Being overweight is not due to laziness; it is often due to just the opposite. It is a predicament that lots of loving, caring and intelligent women find themselves in due to lack of time. If you are fed up with the misery of battling weight gain, email me for my Healthy Eating Guide at [email protected]. You can also send for my Mini-Morning Workout – [email protected] – and give the early morning, the best part of the day to yourself. Exercise gives you the confidence and self-esteem to take charge of your life.

Weight Watch

Cut down on nuts

Do you love nuts? Well, one way you can cut down on your nut consumption is to purchase nuts that are still in the shell as opposed to ones that have already been shelled for you. The reason for this is that it takes time and effort to shell nuts and so you will most likely eat less in a given period of time.

Recipe of the week

Vegetarian Skillet Chili

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 onion chopped

2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped

2 tbsp. chili powder

1 cup water

2 x 400 gm canned pinto beans, drained

2 x 400 gm stewed tomatoes Mexican style

3 cups fat-free Monterrey Jack cheese shredded

Method

Over medium high heat, pour oil into ovenproof skillet. Sauté onion and bell peppers until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add chili powder and cook another minute. Pour drained beans, tomatoes, and water into the skillet. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat. Simmer on medium heat until thickened, approximately 20 minutes. Sprinkle chili with cheese and broil in the oven until cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.

Ask Alva

I am 15-year-old and am 145 cm tall and my weight is 34 kg. My BMI states that I am underweight. What can I do to increase my weight and height? Please help.

— Sarah

At 15, you are still growing, and so there is still time for you to become taller. Unfortunately there is little that I can tell you that will help you grow taller, except for you to ensure that you always follow a healthy diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and a good mix of protein, carbohydrates and a little fat. Ideally, carbohydrates should make up around one third of your diet. As you say, according to your BMI you are underweight, but it may be that you are naturally disposed to being a slim shape. Are your both parents slim? As long as you are healthy and follow a healthy diet, that is the most important thing for you. Make sure you are following a balanced diet by reading my free Healthy Eating Guide —just email to [email protected].

— Alva