Thank you all for your replies, and I am going to 'digest' them at my leisure (sorry for the pun). Ramrod and Russ you have done ever so well, and I commend you for it, but Russ if I was to eat every time I felt hungry well............I hate to think.

However there is life in this old girl yet, and by way of dipping my toe in the water, decided to take my first capsule this morning. Early days yet but I couldn't eat all my dinner tonight (hope that's a good sign). Will give it my best shot, won't say I will succeed, but I'm more determined than ever after reading Angua's post, £100 for one month's supply of Reductil, surely not! Wish me luck!