We’ve all done it, over indulged, and grabbed the sugary snack that hits the spot, only to be mortified afterwards.  So how bad is that?

Not maybe as bad as we think.  As long as you don’t have high blood pressure or diabetes, your body can cope with an occasional loss of will power. Nutritionist Dr Mike Roussel says “You’ll store some of the extra fat and sugar” “And the surplus carbs and salt will make you retain water.  So for the next day or two, you may feel bloated and weigh a bit more.”

By releasing hormones to temporarily reduce your appetite, the body will be able to compensate, helping to balance things out.

Bingeing for the whole weekend can cause more trouble.  The Journal of Clinical Investigation carried out a study to examine the effects of palmitic acid, found in saturated fat, on leptin, a hormone that helps to regulate appetite.  Palmitic acid is able to inhibit your ability to regulate food intake when consumed in large quantities.

Try to limit yourself to only one off limits meal in a weekend, not a whole weekend of them.  If you don’t manage it, drink liquorice tea the following day.  Research shows and oil extract from liquorice can increase fat loss and lower cholesterol.

Don’t let one set back ruin a healthy eating programme, get back on track rather than give up!