Many thanks, Satirist, for your helpful comments, particularly those concerning diet. The trainer I had at the gym was not a Personal Trainer, but he went through what I thought (not knowing anything about anything!) was a fairly extensive and searching interview - that was before I set foot in the gym itself. However, I do not recall that the matter of diet came up at all. Maybe if I had opted to pay through the nose for a Personal Trainer, that factor would have been considered, but there was no way I was going to pay £30.00 per hour for that luxury!! I thought the prescribed exercises and use of equipment would do the trick; which was to improve my shape (lose a few inches from my waist). I had no particular wish to lose weight, although to have done so would have been a bonus!

With regard to diet, I have been a careful eater for years. I eat no bread, pastry or biscuits/cookies and only a little pasta or rice. I eat no potato or root vegetables. I have salads almost every day, and plenty of fresh fruit and other vegetables. I never eat sweets/candy (and had my first chocolate for ten months on Christmas Day!). I do, however, enjoy and need meat, red and white, and I enjoy my wine, but seldom touch spirits. All this is a real struggle, because I do like my food!!

Admittedly, since leaving the gym I do not specifically 'exercise', although I have a treadmill which is occasionally used. But I am a fairly active person. I have gained 29 pounds since October 1st - and I am sure it's all gone on my waist!!