If like me you’ve been watching TV documentaries on food recently, don’t despair. Basic foods are still okay to eat. I myself was amazed though at what food manufacturers do to increase the size of certain meats like bacon and chicken, and I dare say this process is used on other foods too. Well, at least I now understand why some supermarket labels say “no added water”. Let’s just hope they are telling the truth.

And what about all those lovely adverts they’ve been showing us on TV promoting Christmas Party Food? Well the old fashioned way is often the healthiest, because at least you know what percentage is added water, fat or sugar. So make your own Christmas nibbles and enjoy.

Yes, I said enjoy! Even though I am on a diet, I can still enjoy what I eat, because I will be eating healthily. Well apart from the odd chocolate biscuit, scoop of ice cream, cashew nut and glass of red wine. And I might even allow myself a bit of Christmas cake and the odd chocolate.

Oh well. There is always that New Year’s resolution.

In all honesty though, I knew that losing weight would be difficult for me. I am 63 and crippled with arthritis, so I can’t go to the gym and burn off what I eat. I also knew that as I’m only aiming to lose one pound a week – I am not going to reach my target until 2011. But at least I am not as hideously overweight as Timothy Spall’s character in “The Fattest Man in Britain” which is being aired over Christmas, and at least I am not asking the overstretched NHS for an expensive operation.

I will do it myself, even if it does seem to take an age to achieve. I have lost one stone so far, I have just got to try harder after the Christmas break.

In the meantime I would like to say “Happy Holiday” to all Argus readers and all the very best for 2010.