Hi pperlroth

Have you considered portion control? A friend of mine was doing the Etape last year and she just reached a standstill weight wise. She was riding loads during the week and eating healthily - low fat, no junk, but she finally twigged she was just eating too much.

Although she ate a very healthy, balanced diet, the portions she ate were just too big. So she gradually downsized her portions and the weight gradually came off. Like Veronica mentioned she was amazed at just how little food she actually needed.

I must add she did this very slowly, so her body became accustomed over time.

I also did a similar thing as I realised when I served up dinner, I gave both me and my boyfriend the same sized portion, (so either he wasn't getting enough or I was getting too much! ).

I certainly don't suggest you go on a crash diet and stop eating, but maybe you could look at the actual amount you eat, as even if it's very healthy it can still be more than you need.

A lot of diets are about denying yourself things - either particular foods or the amount you eat, but even though you might be eating smaller servings you can trick the brain.

Tip: even though you might have a smaller portion than usual, as you eat, think to youself what a huge plate of lovely food you've got .
Eat slowly, really taste your food and think how each mouthful fills you up far more than ever before. Don't think how you must finish everything on your plate, but instead think, 'Wow - if I eat all this I'll be so full. On a diet you get hungry right? So this can't be a diet.'

I'm also a great believer in a little bit of what you fancy does you good. If you feel like pigging out why not buy the most expensive, luxurious chocolate you can find, then see just how slowly you can eat it.

Break off the tinest piece and let it just melt in your mouth so you can really taste it, as though it's something you've never eaten before. Why not challenge youself to see how long you can make the bar last? That way, you can still eat ' bad stuff' but in a way that you can apprieciate it more. You'll also feel more in control - ' I could eat this whole tub of ice cream in one go , but I don't need to...'

Hope this helps