I didn't make it the idea you might be fearful as you approach yet another diet.

Honestly. It's an emotion commonly expressed by those of you who are struggling to achieve a healthy weight.

Fear is a complex subject. Some level of fear is good for us and keeps us safe.

A level of fear when you cross the road will ensure you look before you cross; likewise, fear of strangers helps us take sensible precautions.

But when it comes to weight loss, fear is a funny thing. You might think you'd fear bad health and therefore not eat mindlessly.

But if the fear of poor health was a good motivator, nobody would smoke.

Clearly, fear isn't quite so straightforward.

A common fear which sometimes prevents successful weight loss is the fear of deprivation.

Yo-yo dieters among you have probably been on so many fad and "very low calorie diets", it's the first three letters of the word diet which are uppermost in your mindwhen you take up cabbage soup or grapefruits again. And it is no wonder.

But looking at dieting rationally, you know you are not going to be seriously deprived.

The human body can function very well on far smaller amounts of food than the 1,000 to 1,500 calories you're planning on eating.

We have to conclude, therefore, it's not a real fear which is holding you back.

Instead, I'd like to hypothesise you're not actually afraid of what you're afraid of, you're afraid of what you think. (You may need to read that a few times.)

There are many ways to overcome these thoughts. I'd like to put just one forward: You cultivate your curiosity.

An apocryphal story is told of a native American who had lived most of his life beyond the reaches of civilisation.

In 1911, he appeared in the foothills of Northern California and was introduced by two anthropologists to many things which he had never experienced before.

The first time he went on a train, he told his benefactors when he was a child, he and his tribe had thought the distant train passing through his valley was the demon.

His benefactor asked him how, therefore, had he found the courage to get on the train.

He answered: "Life has taught me to be more curious than afraid."

This is a wonderful attitude of mind.

For those of you who are afraid of deprivation, I suggest you cultivate the same spirit of curiosity this native American talked of.

What might it be like to be a naturally slim person?

What might it be like to be able to say "no thank you" to food if you're not hungry?

Slim people aren't deprived but they do have good appetite when they eat.

Your fear of deprivation in your mind. Use your imagination and start to behave in a way which will make your imagination a reality.

Play with these ideas and have fun. Lighten up. Weight loss does not have to be fearful.

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