After a good start to my new year's diet I'm finding myself going down the slippery slope again. Although I'm not due to weigh myself again until tomorrow morning I have a fair idea that I'm likely to be back where I started at the beginning of the month.

I haven't had any major problems, like a chocolate binge, but I'm just not stringing together enough good days to keep my weight going down.

What I'm finding is that in any given week one bad day can easily undo the other six good days, and I'm having enough trouble managing six good days.

This week has been spoilt by a buffet at work which my boss insisted I ate and a meal out on Friday with huge portions. It's the portion control I really struggle with - I just cannot leave anything on the plate going to waste.

This is OK at home where I can cook less, but when going out I am at the mercy of the restaurant. By the way, the pub/restaurant concerned, The Old Spot in Arnold, Nottingham, is highly recommended, although not perhaps for dieters unless they have a lot more willpower than me!

The staff there were all extremely friendly, helpful and professional. The restaurant was spotlessly clean and big enough to spread out a bit and the food was not only excellent tasting but incredible value (we had some vouchers from the internet). It's the first time we've been there but it won't be the last.

Anyway, back to the weight loss (or lack of it). It looks like I'm going to have to start again tomorrow. Maybe it's time for something drastic to really get things going.

Whilst sensible weight loss of a couple of pounds a week is the best way to go, if you have a bad week it's too easy to undo all of the good work. I need to crash through the 90kg barrier to give myself some impetus to get down to the 75kg I really should be.

It's exercise that's really let me down. I'm finding it so hard to motivate myself to do any sort of exercise which I need to burn off the calories. I'm going on Ebay now to look for some cheap exercise equipment.

First of all a happy new year to everyone. Hope 2010 will prove to be a great year for you all.

I've just been looking back at the start of my weight loss quest and seen that on the 1st August I weighed 95kg. I've started my new diet this morning and weighed in at 97.7kg. So my last effort yielded a 2.7kg gain. Doh.

Again I'm not going to follow a set diet, just try to eat sensibly, drink more water, less coffee, less stress, more exercise. I'm writing everything down on a weekly diet sheet (pictured right).

This is stuck to the front of my fridge and should help me keep track of everything I'm doing in order to reduce my weight.

I'm using it as a tracker, but you could also use it as a plan, writing down everything you are going to eat in advance, planning all of your meals and daily exercise, and crossing/ticking them off as you finish them.

I've set myself a goal of getting under 90kg by the end of March. That's a loss of around 8kg (17lbs?) in 12-13 weeks. Not much more than a pound per week, which should be achievable if only I could stick to it!

There are no birthdays or celebrations in the early part of the year so I have no parties to go to. The biggest problem is going to be work where I tend to overeat, mainly due to stress. I'm going to take a packed lunch and try to avoid the chocolate, crisps and biscuits which seem to be a staple feature of the kitchen.

Hopefully my wife will be more helpful this time. At the mention of diets she normally rolls her eyes and tuts (I think she knows how little willpower I have). She's going to have to stop buying crisps etc. in the weekly shop - I can't resist them if they are in the house.

If anyone else has set themselves a new years resolution of losing weight I wish you all the best and hope it goes well.

However bad 2009 has been for you, and it's been a bad year for many, 2010 is a fresh start. Think positive, try to make things better by your own actions. Don't wait for a miracle (I've just checked our lottery account online and we weren't the £10m winners!). You are in charge of your own destiny - improve your future!

New years resolutions are a good way to start, although how many people actually stick to them? That could be because they are often a bit airy-fairy. For instance, many people will be promising themselves they will "lose some weight". It's much better to say that you will lose 5kg by 31st March 2010. You have set yourself a measurable goal and have something definite to aim for.

Once you've set your goal make a plan to get there. Between now and the end of March there are 13 weeks so make a chart to plot your progress. Work out what you will eat for the next 13 weeks and when and what sort of exercise you will be taking. Write it all down and cross it off once you've done it.

Weight loss will definitely be one of my New Year resolutions. I also need to make some more money. This one is a bit harder to achieve. I am looking at improving a number of websites I own and getting them to produce a small monthly income if possible. I'm going to set myself a target of £50 per month by the end of March.

Once that target is reached I can then press on with getting to £100, £200 etc as the year progresses. It's going to be hard work and not as easy as it might sound to many who think the internet is a gold mine!

I've also been trying to tie up a lot of loose ends before the year ends. I've moved most of our accounts away from the godawful Lloyds TSB, just one more to go. I'm in the process of closing my poker account. I just don't get any time to play, and any spare time should be used making money. Although, saying that, I was in profit on my account but it just takes up too much time.

As I haven't played on my bingo account for ages I was also looking at closing that. I've used their money so far so I couldn't withdraw. I thought I would play it all and get rid of it. But I got a line and full house double win on my second game so ended up increasing my balance.

So I've decided to keep my account and use it as a distraction when I get a few minutes downtime. The bingo games only last a couple of minutes so I don't need a huge time investment.

Whatever you are up to tonight to celebrate the New Year have fun and stay safe. Don't drink and drive! All the best for a happy and prosperous New Year to all.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Ours was very busy and I'm looking forward to a few days off now to relax (as much as you can with a 15 month old in the house!).

Nearly at the end of the year, in fact the end of the decade. It's a good time to look back on what's happened and take stock of the past, present and future.

2009 has ended well. My competition wins in December (three arriving in Christmas week) cheered me up no end. Although I have had a few problems this year, particularly with work, I am at least in work and nothing disastrous has happened this year in terms of death or illness.

We are a bit poorer financially than this time last year, a trend which looks like continuing for the forseeable future (lottery win permitting), but things could be a lot worse and there are plenty of people worse off than ourselves around the world.

I'm already looking forward to 2010. I've been hammering the competition entries over the last few days and am extremely confident that prizes will be showing up in January. I've already set up my 2010 competition wins page in anticipation.

I desperately need to lose weight and something drastic may need to be done on this front. My gym membership has had to be cancelled and I haven't had chance to try out my new running shoes with all of the snow and ice underfoot.

Need to do something with this website too. The money making DVD is still available as is the free money making ebook but neither have been making me any significant money so I'm looking at changing track. Not quite sure where to go at the moment but I have some time now to give it some thought and come up with some ideas.

Happy New Year to everyone. Hope 2010 brings you everything you wish for.

Yes you read that right, it isn't a typo, This is SLIMING tea (see box shot right). Can it help with weight loss?

I first found this in an asian supermarket a couple of years ago. I tried it but it played havoc with my system.

From time to time I have tried it again, each time with the same results, but in desperation I have reached for it again.

I have stopped using hot water and followed the box instructions to use cold water. I tend to steep it for a few hours for my evening drink, and then use the teabag a second time overnight for my morning drink.

The results are pretty similar! There don't seem to be any ingredients on the box and it does claim to be all natural. It seems to work by turning your insides out!

Basically it has a very strong diuretic effect on my body. Not instantly, that would be straightforward to deal with, but at seemingly random intervals meaning that straying too far from a toilet is not advisable when you are drinking two cups a day.

I had to pick my parents up from the airport a few days ago and it kicked in on the drive there. I wanted to pull over and use a layby but had my baby son in the car so just had to squeeze my cheeks hard and pray that the urges would subside.

I haven't weighed myself on the scales to see whether I've lost any weight yet, although with the amount of material exiting from my body I must have done. It may be well named given the consistency of said material. Very similar to the colonic irrigation I once had so maybe it really is "unblocking the pipes" and getting rid of toxins.

It does have a very cleansing effect and I'm sure used in short bursts it is probably not harmful.

I have five more teabags left in the box, after which I'm going to take a rest before buying any more. It wouldn't be so bad if it at least tasted OK on the way in but it is a pretty horrible brew.

If long term weight loss is your goal this is probably not the answer. However if you want a good "clear-out" it is certainly very effective!