1. When you were a child...

a. If I was good, I was often rewarded with food
b. My family always shared mealtimes together
c. My mother controlled and restricted my portions


2. What is your attitude to food and eating?

a. When I'm miserable I tend to comfort myself with food
b. Most times I only eat when I'm hungry
c. I constantly monitor my eating and exercise regimes


3. If you find you've lost some weight...

a. I treat myself...usually with food
b. I treat myself by shopping/buying myself some non-food treat
c. I try even harder next week!


4. Given a choice between a tiny amount of one of your favourite foods or a larger portion of another 'healthy' food what would you opt for?

a. My favourite food because I often forbid it
b. Can I have both?
c. The larger portion – I would still be hungry after a tiny amount of food


5. You've had one of those really stressful days at work. Afterwards do you...

a. Walk through the front door and aim straight for the fridge
b. Go for quick snacks – and try and keep them healthy
c. Rack the music up, take a bath, watch a movie...


6. Life is good at the moment. How do you react?

a. I eat
b. I generally eat less when I'm happy
c. My eating patterns don't change much


7. Happiness is...

a. My favourite foodie treats
b. Being with friends and family, an empty beach, a great book...
c. Knowing I have my life under control


Mostly a's

Emotional Eater

You have assigned far too much power to food in your life than it deserves. For you it is much more than fuel – it is a calming device. The first action for you is to experiment with other forms of comfort or reward in order to convince yourself that there are many effective ways to restore the status quo.

Mostly b's

Relaxed Eater

You have a healthy relationship with food. However you're liable to be tempted into mindless snacking and may find that the pounds creep slowly on. Find a compelling enough reason for maintaining a slim, healthy body and you will!

Mostly c's

Controlled Eater

You possess lots of willpower and take pride in your ability to exert control over your life. People may often describe you as driven. You refuse to compromise your high standards. This can be a great recipe for success but just be sure to build enough relaxation and fun activities into your days.

Whatever category you find yourself in – remember – do not resort to dieting as for every period of food deprivation there is ALWAYS the eventual rebellion in the form of uncontrolled and excessive eating (the binge). Find a compelling enough reason to achieve or maintain your body ideal and then provide yourself with constant reminders of your 'why' – there's a whole host of highly effective tools out there from vision boards, affirmations, visualisation, motivational cd's – find whatever works for you and look at it, listen to it or imagine it as often as you can.