What would you like me to write about?

I'm thinking of writing blogs on the following soon, let me know your priority:

• Lucid dreaming - the ability to control your dreams
• Atheism - why it doesn't mean not being "Christian"
• Getting on with your 11 year old daughter
• Golf tips for high handicappers
• Product marketing on a shoe-string
• Tony Blair: what went wrong?
• Why Britons don't like Bush
• Which country is best to live in: France, Germany or Italy?
• The German stereotype - is it real?
• Tips for a first level manager

The lazy way to lose weight

It's really quite simple to lose weight if you are overweight:

• Eat the right things - reduce fatty food intake - if possible, completely avoid chips, crisps, fries, butter, cream, mayonaise, and similar high fat foods
• Don't deny yourself completely fattening stuff you like or can't resist but just don't eat it often
• Do eat pasta, rice, potatoes, bread but keep it to sensible amounts
• Eat smaller portions - not dramatically smaller, still eat enough but avoid second helpings
• Once you've done this for a while you'll find that you get full quicker - when that happens - you feel full - stop eating - this really helps!
• If you can't do a lot more exercise - do a little more exercise - for example, take a "long" walk once a week in addition to three lunchtime strolls per week - and have a non-fattening sandwich instead of "going to lunch" those days
• Weigh yourself every day - if your weight is going in the wrong direction keeping an eye on it can be a motivation to watch what you eat a bit more closely for a few days. If the weight is going in the right direction you'll find you feel good about it and this creates motivation to keep it going!
• Have a "mini-competition" with a friend re. losing some weight and update each other each week in email - it'll help keep you on track and focused - but don't stop writing them if you start losing ...
• Don't worry if you have plateaus - weeks where despite your best efforts your weight stays the same - perservere and you will break thru
• Don't go on a "diet" - just eat sensibly - there is a difference
• Don't let any one thing that you are not sticking to (for example, no exercise for a week or two) put you off doing the other things on the list
• Think about what your health going forward means to you and your family - don't you want to live longer and enjoy being able to do things for a longer time with your family and friends?
• Don't expect to lose a ton of weight immediately - you might lose quite a bit - but this is about changing your eating habits and exercise habits - that takes time
• Don't get conned into doing any fad diets!