I'd been warned that moving in with a boyfriend is one of the key times for weight gain. No problem I thought, I'll just make sure I eat a bit less. All began well with me marvelling at the amount of food he was able to put away, while picking at my salad, but over time my portion sizes have been steadily growing as has my waistline.

It's got to the point where I've taken to serving him giant helpings on a giant plate and congratulating myself on the fact my plate looked measily in comparison, but when my trusted 'comfy trousers' failed to meet at the zip I knew it was time to stop kidding myself and take action.

The pounds seem to keep piling on unannounced, but because my cleavage is also growing the boyfriend doesn't seem too concerned. 'Look, look at all that fat' I screech while neurotically pinching my belly. 'Love handles' said the boyfriend, 'Don't worry about it, I like them.'

Kind of him to say so, but the problem is I don't like them. I can't wear my favourite jeans without a roll of fat sitting over the top and a supposedly forgiving wrap-dress just makes me look like I have a bun in the oven.

The problem is I've forgotten what a normal sized portion is supposed to look like. Whatever the size of the plate I'll fill it and eat the lot thanks very much.

I'd read about the Diet Plate before, but at the time I was living with a girlfriend. In between busy social lives, we'd try and sit down and eat a meal together once a week, but now I sit down and eat a proper meal every night and lovely as it is, there-in lies the crux of the problem.

There is no way I could sit there picking at a salad while my boyfriend ate sausages and mash. So the only thing for it is to reduce my portion sizes and up the exercise. I ordered the plate and in case he felt left out, I ordered him the male version.

Two weeks in and I am feeling slightly less squidgy. We're both eating exactly the same meals so there's no calorie counting and no fuss, but I'm eating less of them by sticking to the measured boundary for starchy carbohydrates and protein. I haven't quite got to the stage of taking my diet plate along to a restaurant as suggested in the literature (that way madness lies), but I do use it every night for my evening meal.

Three weeks in and I've got a much clearer idea of how much food I should have on my plate. I'm not going hungry, I'm just not eating until I'm stuffed anymore. I'm also starting to go to gym classes regularly rather than just paying the membership and showing my face once a week to use the shower before a night out.

A month on and I've dropped a few pounds. I can now do the zip up on my favourite jeans and in another month or two they will hopefully be loose enough for me to actually walk in. I love my food so having to cut out carbs, chocolate etc is not an option. I'm just going to have to learn to be less greedy.

Order the Diet Plate from British Heart Foundation lifestyle shop