Firstly, I’m a travel and lifestyle writer. Secondly, I love food. This  was not always the case though. I didn’t start to love food (or use as a weapon against MYSELF) until I was 18 and now I can’t stop myself to save my health!

Although I was a large newborn (nearly 10 lbs at birth),  growing up I was skinny and small and remember getting harassed for not eating much. I loved chocolate and candy, as all children do.

This all changed when I was 18 and got my first job in a fast food outlet. For the first time ever, I gained weight: 9 kg/20 lbs in a matter of months. Over the next couple years this number increased to 11kg/25lbs.

I tried to develop an eating disorder to rid the unwanted padding and mastered the bingeing but the vomiting never took.

By the time I was 23, I started to shed the weight with the help of good ol’ stress and by my mid 20s I was back to my petit-self, my “normal” weight.  I didn’t have nay other weight issues until recently when I’ve noticed the dreaded middle-age spread setting in.

This does not mean I don’t have food issues; I do.

I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to cure a chronic sinus problem for 20+ years now and have tried many methods. I have had some indications that food is playing a role. I just can’t seem to stay away from cake…..

I can be determined and very successful with my health via food quests but it hardly lasts more than a month or so. “Everything in moderation” is a bullshit notion that does not work for me. I’m an ‘all or nothing’ type!!!

Since starting this blog in October 2011, I have had many successes with a restricted diet plan.

I am now able to have a go at “moderation” but still find my battles constant and overwhelming at times. Although I would love it to be a complete lifestyle change, in reality I like to eat and eating and drinking play a big part in the little socialising I do.

I’m on and off my regimes and my record now is 4 months: Jan 2012-Apr 2012 inclusive. When I fall off, I get back up….after a few weeks of indulgence, of course.

UPDATED: July 2017

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