ONE step forward and two steps back last week – but I managed to get back on track on Monday morning, so all is not lost.

I was feeling quite under the weather at the start of the week, a possible cold brewing that never materialised saw me reaching for a bit of comfort food.

I think my Irish background is to blame for my need for potatoes when I am feeling less than lively.

I managed a swim but that was about it. I need to get some more sessions booked in with Matt Collins, personal trainer at Fifth Dimension Health Club, but we have both been playing diary tennis so it hasn’t been possible these last couple of weeks.

However, there is now nothing left in the fridge or cupboards that could remotely fit the criteria for being bad or fattening.

It does help not having such foodstuffs in the house when the cravings kick in at 9pm. Even I am not addicted to crisps so badly that I will jump in the car and go out and buy some then, so it pays not to bring them into the house in the first place.

Now that the temperature has dropped a bit, salads are becoming less appealing. Next weekend is earmarked for making up healthy soups to stock up the freezer.

The slow-cooker will need to be dusted off so that I can organise a few hearty stews to be ready when I arrive through the door ravenous.