Let's play a little game.

Don't think of an orange.

See. You did, didn't you!

You couldn't help yourself. With this (rather pathetic, I know) experiment, I have just shown why 97% of the population stay where they are...just treading water.

They focus their thinking on what they don't want...rather than what they DO want.

They do this...because they can't help themselves.

"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me."

This quote isn't one of my own - although I would like to echo its sentiments.

It was the great Winston Churchill who said it. A man who lead the Allies to victory in the Second World War.

A man who became one of Britain's most-loved heroes. Yet - even though he achieved more in his life than you or I could possibly imagine - he certainly knew what was the most important part of his life.

It's easy to measure your achievements by the material things you have, or by how much money you earn.

It's much harder to put a value on those things that are vitally important for a happy and successful life:

- A good relationship with your spouse - Happy, 'balanced' children - Your health - Somewhere to live

OK, I'll admit it. I'm a little overweight...well a bit more than a little.

Why?

It's because of my genes...or my big bones...or my slow metabolism.

Well, it's none of those really. I've got a 'sweet tooth'.

The amount of chocolate that I used to put away every day would have floored a small elephant.

You see...I'm fat because of WHAT I repeatedly ate...and not because of how my body reacted to it AFTER I repeatedly ate it.

So I've cut down now. A low fat diet. Lose 28 pounds or so - that should do it.