I'm 6ft 4in tall and currently weigh 16st 13lbs (BMI 28.9). If you don't or can't measure in English, then I'm 1.93m tall and weigh 237lbs or 107.7kg. According to the charts I have here, I should weigh between 10st 12lbs and 14st 9lbs. Being quite broad, I guess that somewhere towards the upper end of the range is OK. So, I'm still overweight but no longer in the obese category. Before I started the current assault on my weight, in early January 2007, I weighed 18st 9lbs/261lbs/118.6kg/BMI 31.8.

Here's a small version of the chart. For a better size view, which is easily readable, just click on the image. This chart is based on one I found whilst browsing - sadly the site I found it on has gone now. You will see this chart frequently on British TV, for example in Casualty and Holby City. I have added the metric heights and weights for those who are accustomed to these units.

More attention now seems to be paid to Body Mass Index (BMI) than height or weight. BMI combines your height and weight. A BMI of less than 18.5 is classed as underweight, 18.5-25 is classed as ideal, 25-30 is classed as overweight, 30-40 is classed as obese and over 40 is classed as very obese or morbidly obese.

BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared i.e. kg/m^2

Courtesy of the BBC, this is all done for you by clicking here if you measure in imperial or here if you measure in metric.

My initial target was 15st 7lbs, I achieved 15st 11lbs by the end of 1996 and my new target is 14st 9lbs - just under half a stone lower than my Doctor said I should really go. I have put some weight back on over the last six years, but it is on its way off again now. Before I began to lose weight I was 19st 12lbs and that was near the end of January 1996. I feel *much* happier in myself and people really do notice the difference.

How have I done it, you may ask? And why?

The 'why' is easy, the *huge* incentive produced by meeting new guys from the Net, and particularly in the period since I discovered IRC, back in March 1996.

By having something to do in the evenings, IRC, I have been *much* less bored and no longer drink the vast quantities of cider I used to quaff every evening. This, in turn, stopped me getting the 'munchies' and consequently I eat much less. If I do drink at home, mainly if I have guests, then it's G&T.

I essentially use the Atkins diet or at least a variation on it nowadays. I tend not to have breakfast, other than a coffee, and I get something small and appropriate for lunch. In the eveing I have a sensible meal. We eat out about once a week and I eat normally then. I also drink far too much at clubs, but it all seems to work. I take multi-vitamins daily to supplement my lesser food intake.

Essentially that's all I've done. The only exercise I get is my bicycle very occasionally, weather permitting.

Since I met my boyfriend, Mark, in January 1997 things have changed quite a bit. I diagnosed him as a Type I Diabetic (insulin dependant) soon after we met, currently on four injections daily, and his diet needs to be sensible. Thus mine has become rather more sensible than it was before my big weight loss. Mark's need for regular meals and snacks did cause me to join in and my weight crept back up by about half a stone or so. I no longer have those snacks with him and things are returning to normal with my current target still being 14st 7lbs.