There's an approach to losing weight that many people try. During the week, when they are in a routine, they are "well-behaved" and lose a couple of pounds.

Then, as soon as the weekend starts, they suddenly allow themselves to eat whatever they fancy and put back all the weight they've lost - and more.

Those of you who try to keep your weight under control using this approach are probably finding it doesn't work very well. Over time, you gain weight.

So why doesn't this method work? The problem lies in the flawed concept of "good" versus "bad" behaviour. I'd like to pick up on this and try to change this damaging mindset. Does it sound familiar?

I expect the "good" behaviour you exhibit during the week consists of eating lots of fruit and salads. Some attempt not to eat between meals and spend hours poring over the small print in the supermarket, picking out the low-fat foods and carrying a calorie counter around.

By this time you're probably getting confused. Why would I, as the DietCoach, be mocking such exemplary behaviour? You're right - it's admirable but . . .

It would be fine if it worked. But it doesn't, does it? It's dependent on being in a routine and therefore it goes haywire at the weekend. If such good behaviour is unsustainable in the long-term, then something must be wrong with the way you're looking at things.

Let's think about the concept of "good" and "bad" foods. If certain food is off-limits, you want it all the more. You manage to keep off cake during the week but it isn't natural so, at the weekend when you "let your hair down", it becomes just too hard to resist.

Think about naturally slim people. You probably know some (a diminishing number). You've even seen them eat chocolate. Your natural reaction is to feel very hard done by.

Have you ever said "If I so much as look at chocolate I put on weight"? That's generally because you've deprived yourself of chocolate for so long, once you give in it isn't just two squares (like your slim friends) but two (or four) bars.

You go over the top because you haven't had any all week and because you know that when Monday morning comes around you'll be back to that boring good behaviour and all the feelings of deprivation that go with it.

So where now? I'm not suggesting anyone eat chocolate daily, although I am suggesting that if you regularly allow yourself a taste of chocolate and remove from your mind any notion of "naughty" foods, you're far less likely to binge over the weekend. Suddenly all food is allowed (when you're hungry) and once it's allowed, you might find you don't even want it that much.

Another change might occur. Instead of the "tomorrow" mentality, you might just find yourself saying "I can have some today and more tomorrow". So different from deprivation tomorrow.

You may even discover that if it's suddenly all permitted, you don't want it today. Tomorrow will do. There's even the possibility that tomorrow won't come.

You can get support from Dr Judy Citron and her team of DietCoaches by joining her telephone weight-loss classes, right from your own home. "You lose weight and you're not on a diet. It's amazing." Phone free for more information on 0800 074 0260 or visit the web site at www.thedietcoach.com