The Knack Of Losing Weight

Think twice before you pick up that diet book. Mike Wood, a personal trainer and an expert in exercise physiology and nutrition, tells us why

- Mike Wood

THERE are hundreds of diet books out there aimed at those wanting to lose weight. At a glance, they may seem different but they all want to trick you into eating less one way or another. Recognise these methods: tracking ‘points’, reducing fat, cutting carbs, not combining certain foods, not eating after a certain time?

My main gripe is that these diets typically involve a one-size fits all approach and don’t take into account the differences in people’s physiology, goals and dietary preferences, which could be cultural too. This is probably why some people swear by one type of diet over another. It’s likely that a diet that ‘works for me’ suits their lifestyle better than another and isn’t necessarily the answer to your weight problem.