Periodically throughout the year I run 6-week "Nutrifit" optimum nutrition and fitness courses for the keen-beans amongst us. Without fail I've had fantastic groups, who come to their classes with open minds and, thank god, a good sense of humour. In fact, I may make it a pre-requisite that all participants have a natural ability to see the funny side of otherwise odd situations.

As the meetings take place in an art gallery, I once had to present an hour long class, with a watercolour of a very brazen nude lady right behind my head. How was anyone supposed to take me seriously when each of my ears was flanked by a sizeable boob? The previous week, I'd dropped my carefully constructed play-doh models of poo in the mud prior to our session on digestion. When the poo models are bright-red it's fairly easy to detach yourself; when they are brown and covered in tiny bits of stick and gravel however, everything suddenly becomes more problematic. And let's not forget that this was also the day that I dropped one of the models in a participants lap.

Fortunately, despite these little distractions, the courses are still popular. The more serious distractions tend to come from friends and family who are very good at diverting my participants off course. This may simply be a convenient excuse, but spouses and children get an awful lot of blame for the pizza and ice-cream that sneaks its way into the food diaries.

If you're going it alone on the road to good health, it can be tricky to stay on track without the full support of others. "Partner sabotage" may sound far-fetched, but often occurs where a partner feels threatened by the other's healthier and hotter new bod. Well-meaning friends and family may also throw you off track, when they use unhealthy treats as a means of reward or to cheer you up. Finally, even if you banish all the junk-food to one cupboard for the kids - if you know it's there, at some point it's going to get you.

The solution? Make sure that the people who you spend time with and who you rely on for support are on your side. This can be easier said than done, which is why the new Nutrifit course is designed for couples. The idea is to join the course with someone else who is influential in your life - this may be a spouse, partner, colleague, friend or family member. Buddy-up and your motivation, accountability and willpower can become twice as strong. Frustrated in Somerset - you may be interested! Check out www.nutrifitbermuda.bm for more details.

Question of the week:

My good intentions to be healthy are always messed up by my family! What can I do to get them on side?

FRUSTRATED – in SOMERSET

1. Buddy up!

The best approach here is to get your partner or spouse to join in your healthy regime with you. This can be tricky and so if the simple motivation of improved energy levels and a sleek new look don't work, then I find that bribery/emotional blackmail often work a treat. With another family member (or friend/colleague) on board, you are more likely to stick to your goals. There'll be fewer people to pull you off track and someone to motivate you in weaker moments - i.e. when given the choice between a fruit salad and a double chocolate hot fudge sundae with sprinkles and whipped cream.

2. Make your house a healthy house.

Take charge of the groceries that enter your house. DO NOT allow junk in your cupboards or fridge. Explain to the others that chips, ice-cream, sodas and processed foods no longer have a home in your kitchen. Store healthy snacks in place of unhealthy ones - for example, trail mix (not roasted nuts), veggie sticks and guacamole or hummus, home-popped pop-corn and fresh fruit. In addition, this is an old bit of advice but it's also true - do not shop when you are hungry. You're much more likely to arrive home with ill-advised treats.

3. Allow treats, but OUTSIDE your home.

There is nothing wrong with the occasional treat once or twice a week, especially if it's a more natural treat - i.e. chocolate ice cream wins hands down over a blue snowball every time. However, if you or your family members are going to have treats, have them when you are out of the house. This prevents you from becoming a Nutrition Nazi, but also stops you spending your evenings at home wrestling with your conscience over the Oreos in the cupboard.

4. Group rewards

Motivate your whole family to eat healthily to maximize support for your cause. Reward a week of healthy eating with lunch out or a trip to the movies. Choose your reward carefully - no incentive works better than the incentive someone wants, so have a good think about what will inspire your particular brood. One word of caution: try not to use junk-foods as "rewards" as this can be a hard habit to break and can contribute to weight gain during times of sadness or stress.

5. Educate

It's important that you don't just change the rules without explaining why. Don't just say that you're avoiding bad fat, but explain that bad fat can contribute to weight gain, low energy and a bad mood. Point out the benefits of healthy foods too and look up interesting/scary statistics from reliable sources on the internet. For example, once your family members know that the average hot dog is 90% fat and blood, they probably won't want one either¿ So good luck and remember to check out www.nutrifitbermuda.bm for the new course details!

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist. She can be contacted at 291 4725 or clinicalnutrition@gmail.com. Course details: www.nutrifitbermuda.bm.