I think that at this time of year, most people feel the need to assess their progress, with a view to change things in the New Year, and I'm no exception. I seem to have drifted for a lot of this year, although my exercise and fitness have improved a lot. It must be coming up for a year since I stopped really following Paul McKennas golden rules, and went back to calories counting and tracking, and in that time I have put on nearly a stone!

The problem with calorie counting is that I'm not listening to what my body is telling me, with the result I'm eating too much. I have thought for some time that my calorie allowance is too generous, with the result that I'm eating things, and finishing everything on my plate, because I have spare calories, not because I'm hungry. It's OK to eat that sandwich, I have the spare calories, that biscuit, those nuts.

That in turn is stretching my stomach again, so that I have room now for the extra calories. I'm back again to eating because it's mealtimes too, not waiting till I'm hungry, and doing the opposite, ignoring hunger because I'm busy, then eating everything in sight. And I'm eating in front of the telly! Mindless eating, not enjoying what I'm eating. Sometimes, later, I can't even remember what I had!

So, it's back to basics again. Back to the four golden rules. Eat when hungry, and don't eat if I'm not. Eat what I fancy, not what is labelled good for you. Eat slowly and mindfully. Stop when full. I will start with the first, and gradually work in the others.

I don't know why I went back to calorie counting in the first place. Perhaps it's lack of confidence in my own decisions, thinking that others always know better than I do. Anyway, my new years resolution is to get back to the Paul McKenna regime that suited me so well and saw me lose 30lbs.

I will listen to my CD before I go to sleep tonight, and start watching the DVD's for inspiration each day.