Dear Dr. Gott: I just wanted you to know that I have lost 155 pounds using your no-flour, no-sugar diet. I think I should be your spokesperson!

Seriously, I am a 56-year-old female teacher, and I wanted to get in shape before I retired a year ago. I also wanted to be healthier and have a long retirement life. At my previous weight, I was unhappy, unhealthy and unfit to do anything physical, so I tried your diet plan. It worked and it has just kept on working.

It took me two years to get the weight off, and I still have around 27 pounds to go, but my doctor says I have probably added ten years to my life. I used to be on three different high-blood-pressure medications and had to use a c-pap machine every night because of sleep apnea. Now I am medication-free, and my sleep apnea has disappeared.

I have taken up walking each day now, and last week, even at my age of 56, was able to walk 34 miles! I truly believe you have saved my life, so I wanted to send you my belated thanks.

Reply: Congratulations! You have made a remarkable change in your life, and I commend your efforts. Making the decision to turn your life around and work toward better health is often the most difficult part of losing weight.

Healthful weight loss will not happen overnight. It takes time to gain weight and it takes time to lose it. You averaged a weight loss of about one-and-a-half pounds per week, which is appropriate.

I am pleased to hear that you are now able to be more active. If you continue to walk four to five miles a day, you will increase your muscle tone and further improve your health.

Keep up the good work and enjoy your retirement. You deserve it.

Readers interested in learning more about my no-flour, no-sugar diet should order my Health Report 'A Strategy for Losing Weight: An Introduction to the No Flour, No Sugar Diet' by sending a self-addressed stamped number ten envelope and a $2 cheque or money order to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.

Dear Dr. Gott: Sometime ago, you published a formula of four natural ingredients to combat constipation. I gave this to a friend who suffers from this but she has lost it. Could you please reprint this? Thank you for your great work.

Reply: I believe the recipe you are looking for is that of my colon cocktail. It consists of equal portions of applesauce, prune juice and bran. One to two tablespoons taken daily in the morning should relieve symptoms of constipation. I often advise that it be made in small batches in order to keep it fresh because it does not have a long shelf life. It must also be stored in the refrigerator. Other home remedies include a mug of warm water a half-hour before breakfast each morning, warm apple juice, prune juice (warm or cold), whole prunes, powdered fibre drink mixes and even consuming more raw fruits and vegetables that are high in fibre.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report 'Constipation and Diarrhoea'. Other readers who would like a copy should write to the address above.

Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including 'Live Longer, Live Better', 'Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet' and 'Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook'.