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LIKE millions of women in the Western world I adhere to the philosophy that any calories ingested at the weekend or on holiday don't count.

The same can be said for children's parties, bank holidays, Bonfire Night, royal weddings, birthdays (mine or anyone else's) and times of hormonal turbulence.

The calories in wine don't count because they are liquid, the energy contained in a Belgian bun, say, can also be discounted if eaten at work because they help to brighten the day.

The end-of-week pizza is fine too, because it's deserved.

But in keeping with my new, shiny, still-enthusiastic fitness regime, this laissez-faire attitude to food really should change.

While losing weight isn't a top priority, upping the quality of the food I eat is - although having said that, our diet at home is pretty much all freshly-cooked, fruit and veg-rich and junk-free I don't want to come over all Gillian McKeith - let's face it, who does? - but in an ideal world, it will be bye-bye pizza, crisps, full-fat cheese, wine, sweets, white bread and white pasta' and, hello porridge, hello herb tea, hello water, raw carrots and mixed seeds'.

Regular healthy snacks are also A Good Thing. Instead of crisps, I should have a handful of nuts, while a banana a couple of hours after breakfast will keep me fuelled through the morning and chopped up celery, carrots and tiny tomatoes help to keep hunger at bay later in the day.

It all sounds a bit bean-sprouty and virtuous, but in the name of the greater good it's got to be worth a try.

On Saturday morning I swapped my usual toast and Marmite for a bowl of porridge furnished with a sprinkling of sugar, a scattering of mixed seeds and a dollop of (low-fat) crème frâiche.

And do you know what? It was just the job and kept me going all morning and right up until my pre-prandial packet of crisps and glass of wine.

So there we go. All things in moderation and my halo of dietary virtue will be shining briskly.

Now, when my morning snack consists of a handful of raisins in place of a pack of ready salted, instead of inwardly groaning I'm starting to think Oh goody, sugar and carbohydrates. Yum'. Weird.

And best of all, according to personal trainer and nutritional consultant Rob, after exercise what your body needs is simple carbohydrates, and guess what? Wine gums are a great source of them.

I can't have wine, but I can drink it vicariously through a child's sweetie. Great stuff.

To contact Rob Stone call 07760 225598 or pop into his studio above Cobwebs internet café in St Thomas Street, Weymouth.

8:20am Tuesday 4th March 2008

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