I've done most of the fad diets out there and I've lost the weight (lots of it) and put it all back on plus more. So for the last couple of years I've just been living a healthy lifestyle, no diet, just listening to my body, learning to eat when I'm hungry, asking my body what do I really want to eat, it's actually been amazing, I've learnt that I really like and want whole, real food and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

I've learnt so much about myself and about food. By listening to my body I feel so much healthier and energised. Were I would normally get take away on the way home from work if I'd had a bad day I now actually want to cook up a bowl of fresh veggies to give me more energy, rather than grabbing something on the way just because it's easier.

I started by just changing one meal at a time, so for a month I focused on breakfast, I got up earlier and made myself breakfast. I worked out what I liked and didn't like, what was healthy & quick if I was running late. I worked out the best options for different days, depending on what I was doing. I know if I don't have breakfast now I suffer the rest of the day, I figured that I may as well start the day off well.

Then I focused on lunch, I just started by making my lunch everyday and taking it to work instead of buying it, surprising I now prefer to make my lunch and have something healthy than buy it and I've saved heaps of money.

Dinner was harder because by the end of the day I just couldn't be bothered, however I learnt to cook and I found it easy to cook stews, curries, cassaroles to start with, the great thing is you can have leftovers for lunch, or freeze it so you have something there when you really don't feel like cooking. It's taken me some time to get dinner right, some nights are still beans on toast.

Even with this though I didn't lose weight, I stayed the same, I didn't put any on and didn't lose any. At first I was really disheartened because I am eating healthy, I also got into organic food, which heightened my taste for real food. However at least I know that I can maintain weight, that has never happened before I was always losing it or putting it on.

What's next? I still need to lose weight.......

I watch Biggest Loser and admire then, however I don't have time to work out 4 -5 hours a day, I'm interested to hear of other peoples journeys and find out what worked for them, I watch the stories on T.V about people losing weight and one thing I've noticed is we all have to find our own way and what works for ourselves .....

I live in hope to find what my body needs to flick the weight loss switch on....

Read Penny's previous blogs:
The weight loss journey begins