These days, it seems that half the population is either on a diet, going on a diet, or has just been on a diet. Unfortunately, most people that go on diets, rebound - that means they put on the weight they lost, and usually a little bit more.

I can certainly relate personally to the ups and downs of weight loss and weight gain. Being on the chubby side myself, I always used to despise those thin people, who could go to Sizzler and not only get their money's worth, but get my money's worth too, never putting on even half a kilogram!

It just makes you realise how different we all are. Our genes are different from person to person, and because of this, you may find that your neighbour or your cousin or your wife remains thin, and you can't take off any weight at all. If anything, you put it on!

You may be the type of person who has always been tubby, or you may find you were athletic as a youngster, and 'middle aged spread' creeps up on you, as you become less active.

At this clinic, we treat you as an individual, and advise you on the way of living, which not only should help you lose weight, but also make you less prone to having some of the Western diseases, such as cholesterol problems, heart problems, diabetes Type II stroke etc.

We don't ask you to achieve a certain weight, which you think is impossible - rather than this, we'll look at your total weight and the amount of fat in your system - by measuring these we can ascertain, if you're losing fat and gaining muscle, or vice versa.

The goals that you are set, should be achievable for you over a certain period of time. It is not necessary for you to become the slim person you once were as teenager - often just a little weight-loss can help reduce your risks of illness. A few kilos lost can make you look a lot better in the mirror and fit into a smaller size in clothes. As you achieve each target, you may think of going aspiring to another goal.

However, often, once you've achieved a target, it is often advisable simply to maintain that weight for a little while.

If you are having difficulty losing weight, despite eating well, we can arrange for blood tests, to ascertain if you have a medical condition, which could prevent you from losing weight. You may also find that if you are in the 35- plus age bracket, then, hormonal imbalances may need to be looked at, and regulated in a better way.

For those of you who have difficulty sticking to an eating plan, I can offer Hypnotherapy as a help for motivation and improving dietary self-control.

Read more about Nutrition.