The comedian WC Fields once quipped, "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker", while I enjoy the latter occasionally, the former is my achilles' heel and always has been. So much so that I have been accused of having a sweet tooth as big as the Grand Canyon and I have to admit that I have a recurring dream of swimming in a large vat of melted chocolate as I suck the delight through a straw. Sometimes one piece of candy or sugary delight is enough for me-other times it is not

For instance, last week instead of having one piece of my delights and calling it a day, I wallowed in the myre and went whole hog-no pun intended-and ate my delights as if it was no tomorrow. As a result of this my chickens almost came home to roost, for they just made it to the doorsill because even though I didn't lose any any weight -I didn't gain any either. Alas you're losing if you don't lose on a diet even though the safey net is stalemate-a form of inertia.

Every dieter has their comeuppance, they lose some pounds and strut around proud as a peacock only to be knocked onto the canvass. But like great boxers we bounce off the canvass like a bouncing ball, springing to life for another round of destiny. That is life we get beat and battered but we rise to the occasion and don't become victims of misfortune.

However what can we do about those cravings that seem to be lurking around every corner when we are dieting? These harbingers are waiting and waiting to throw a monkey wrench into our endeavors, and pollute the outcome: if we do the following we may thwart them:

1. Abstain From The Delight Forever- If this is done it should only be do done we are allergic to the food

2. Eat Less Of The Delight- Portions only work if you work but that is the goalof the dieter to reduce intake to reduce calories.

3. Replace It Was Something Else-You had a relationship with this delight. so just as you get a new body lover-you may need to get a new food lover

Because of my fall from grace by abusing #2 and #3, I decided to use #3. I re-placed the sugary, waist expanding, sends tingles up your spin sugary sweets with ginger root. I placed the diced ginger root over my meat , vegetables, re-moved bread from my diet for a week and lost 3lbs.

Dieting is really about changing behavior and having respect for food, and to do that you must know what you're getting into with every bite. You must be consistent and vigilant because for most people it to years to become a fat Manitoba as we use to say as children. I may seem like a monumental task but take the small bite out of this crime.

To maintain your weight by caloric intake multiply your weight by 15 and the sumis the amount of calories it takes to maintain your weight on a daily basis. For nstance, if you weigh 150lbs and want to remain that size, you should not eat less or more than 2250 a day or 15,750 a week. However please note that this is the easy, generic way to calculate caloric intake that does not take into consideration your level of activity, for a more accurate measurement use the American Cancer Society's Calculation which takes into consideration this component.

If one wants to lose weight for a week by reducing calories omit 3500 calories from for each pound you want to lose or if you want to gain weight increase by the same. For each pound whether up or down the bottom line is to get or stay healthy. To that end a waist of 35 or less for women is appropriate and for men it's 40 or less. To measure your waist place a tape measure around your waist.

Another measure of weight is the Body Mass Index which calculates body fat by a person's weight and height. It can be calculated on line by going to www.findmybmi.org. The outcome of the measurements are is follows:

1. 18.5 - 24.9 considered under weight

2. 25 - 29.9 considered normal weight

3. 30 is considered as overweight and graduates to obese.

If ever I'm stretched out on the canvass like a prize fighter and linger in the ring for a second or two and hear the cock crow "Cocka-doodle-do" or the hen burp "Cluck Cluck", I know my chickens have come home to roost and it's time to get on the move.

RECEIPE

HELLO TURKEY

1/4 Cup of Concentrated Lemon Juice

1/4 Cup of diced Ginger Root

1/4 Cup of diced Garlic Cloves

1/4 Cup of Curry Powder

1/4 Cup of Ground Turkey

Mix in bowl-Leave in Refrigerator Over Night

Remove any extra fluid on the mix-roll in meat balls or loaf put in 350 degree

oven for 40-45 minutes or until done.