MY New Year resolution is not to give up anything. I am not giving up my gin and tonics, I am not giving up any food I like to eat (in moderation) and I intend to have lost at least two stone by the end of 2011.

No it’s not another one in a rash of fad diets that always dominate the start of the year.

There is no miracle involved in losing weight unfortunately. It is going to take some hard work and commitment on my part.

I am now long enough in the tooth to realise there are no quick fixes when it comes to shedding the blubber.

No-one goes to bed thin and wakes up fat. It takes time to get that way so it is logical it is going to take time to shed those pounds too.

The reason I am not giving anything up is because life is too short to live it in deprivation.

The key to losing weight is exercise. It is as simple as that. But no-one ever really wants to acknowledge that if we expend more than we take in it equals weight loss. We will all go to any lengths to find another way but nothing is really as effective or long-lasting as exercise.

Like many people I over indulged during the festive period. I haven’t been to the pool at Le Spa since before Christmas or the gym at Fifth Dimension but that is all about to change this week.

My running fell by the wayside during the recent bad weather but I now have a new running buddy.

We are going to run straight after work so that I can’t spend my entire car journey home talking myself out of pounding the pavements.

Last year I proved that it is not necessary to diet to lose weight. Normal healthy eating combined with plenty of movement works every time. Of course it will take a while and from experience there will be setbacks. But that’s OK. I don’t intend to beat myself up about it.

And just to kick start the whole regime I am off to sample a Drop A Dress Size weekend at Heythrop Park Resort in Chipping Norton.

The specially created health and fitness weekend includes personal training, morning running and healthy eating. That should get me on the right track.

I will let you know how I get on.