Well, here goes!

Christmas is a terrible time to feel uncomfortable in your skin. Of course no-one feels their best after weeks of parties, alcohol, chocolates and turkey sandwiches, but to add insult to injury you have all those annoying people who insist on photographing you at the office party, or who decide to test their new HD camera phone by aiming it straight at your double-chin. Unfortunate then, that it's just not possible to lose weight at this time of year; that box of Lindt will not be ignored.

Eighteen months ago I wasn't entirely sure it was even physically possible for me to lose weight. I've always been a bit chubby and for as long as I can remember I've had round cheeks and fat little legs. I thought I was just genetically/psychologically programmed never to be slim. But in Summer 2010 I discovered that my weight had somehow reached 15st7, meaning that at 5ft6 I was a size 16-18. I realised I couldn't continue to eat the way I had been. My fears were compounded when an uncle I hadn't seen in a while commented that I'd "piled on the beef". And so, I embarked on my first serious attempt at weight-loss.

Up until this point my lifestyle and diet had been so bad that I found small improvements made huge differences in my weight and general well-being and before long people were commenting on how well I looked. I was motivated by seeing the results on the scales and receiving complements from family, friends and customers at work. Within six months I was down to around 12st7 and a size 12-14, still a couple of stone heavier than I wanted to be, but I was looking and feeling better than I had in a long time.

Then I got complacent, rediscovered KFC, and I'm currently back in my 16s.

Round 2 begins on New Years Day (such a cliche I know!) but this time I can learn from my mistakes and build on my previous successes. Wish me luck!

Lara x