A LIGHTER BAKE

This was me last year. Taken at Chester Zoo. I looked at this picture when it was posted on Facebook and thought I really need to sort my weight out.

Now I've never been a skinny bloke and I'd lost quite a lot of weight from when I was younger. I was around 18st at one point when I was in school. It always baffled me however why I was so big. I had never eaten tonnes as far as I was aware (maybe I was a secret eater) and I was relatively active. Think I was unfortunate to have a poor metabolism.

Of course, in the past I had committed every year to going on a diet. This of course lasts 2 weeks until I have the first big night out of the year and wake up the next day with a horrendous hangover and need to eat the entire menu of Papa Johns the next day. Then I would think "well why bother" and bang, the diet is over for another year.

"No" I said this year. I'm going to do it!

"But how will you lose weight with all those cakes you make" - cried near enough everyone I knew.

This was a problem. Baking was my passion, my joy. What was I going to do if this was taken away from me?

At first it started by doing The Fast Diet. Otherwise known as the 5:2 diet. You know - 2 days eating less than 600cals and eating normally the other five.

"Great - I thought.I can diet for two days and then stuff myself with cake and chocolate for the other five days"

OK - it doesn't exactly work like that. Stick to under 600cals for two days and then eat "well" for the other five.

Now I love to cook. Hence the creation of this blog but come on, diet food is horrendous isn't it. Ryvita, cous cous, lentils etc. It's the reason that you get bored on a diet so quick.

So therefore my new blog followers - the one thing I wanted to share with the world first of all are the follow three sets of books. The authors and the recipes inside are fantastic:

The fantastic Nadia Sawalha has two of her Greedy Girl diet books out now and I have to say they have been a god send. The book is witty and humorous and Nadia's attitude in the book is uplifting and motivating. Not only that but the recipes are so delicious and simple. One particular favourite of ours is her "Winey Chicken" which I've made many times and still enjoy. If you looking to start a diet, 5:2 or not these are you go too books for ideas and inspiration.

Next up are the Hairy Bikers. Again, the two books are full of humour that makes the look for a good low cal meal feel like a lot less of a chore. What I like about their recipes is that they are the classics done lighter. So you get your cottage pies alongside your "fake-aways" such as Chow Mien and some delicious curry recipes.On the left - I've adapted their Carbonara recipe to make a delicious low(er) cal Mac n' Cheese. My own personal tip for a successful diet: a little bit of what you fancy won't hurt you. This appeared to be the ethos that the Bikers had on the TV show that accompanied the first book. If you get a chance to watch it please do. To see them eating their own recipes and the success they had is a big inspiration.

Lastly: the beautiful Lorraine Pascale. For a baker like me her recipes in her Lighter Way To Bake book are a godsend. Don't get me wrong, they are not low cal recipes more "lower cal" recipes perfect for a weekend treat. I love a banana loaf and her recipe which I baked to the right here is delicious and lower cal - I've added some oats on top for some extra texture too. I can't wait to get through more of the recipes in this book.

So there you have it - my tips on the go too books to choose if you want to eat the tasty stuff but still lose some lbs.

Did it work for me: I've nearly lost 3st now and I'm eating and feeling great.