I know that in theory size doesn't matter, but I have to say I've always been sceptical about small balls.

Before the lovely husband gets a mild sweat on however, let me clarify that I am not referring to him rather, that I've taken up squash at the Court House.

After having Chloe, it was always going to take a lot to get me back through the doors of a gym.

Never short of an excuse to avoid exercise, I now have even more valid reasons at my fingertips… the first being the sheer exhaustion that accompanies having a handful of jobs and running after a toddler with no concept of danger.

Yet offer me access to a deluxe facility with a spa-type feel and I start to get tempted.

Add in the fact that it's owned by Uncle Richard and I'll show up anyway out of loyalty.

I'll admit hands down that my primary reason for going was the family connection, but as it turns out, it's the best possible thing I could have done to improve my health and fitness. Why? Because I love it.

Being healthy is not about dieting or working off calories in the gym, it's about committing to a permanent lifestyle change.

Many of us know this and yet we still experience yo-yo weight loss and gain for most of our adult lives.

Why is this? Simply, because we don't enjoy the changes we make enough to make them permanent. Even if we do well for a few weeks or months, eventually our resolve gives in, especially during times of stress.

When it comes to exercise the trick of course is to find something you absolutely love that just so happens to improve your physical fitness.

For some it will be walks along the beach, for others it will be team sports or working out.

It turns out that given the right environment, I actually love the gym especially when it's all hi-tech and I can plug my iPod in to almost everything.

Also, don't ask me how, but I ended up in a squash clinic for beginners.

I find it hard enough to hit a tennis ball, let alone a teeny tiny ball with a smaller racket, so the prospect was worrying.

Small-ball aversion aside however, it turns out squash is A LOT of fun! As you can hit the ball off one of four walls, the chances of at least keeping your ball in the game are much greater, thank God.

Of course, this "do it because you love it, not just because you have to" philosophy works well for food too.

If you actually enjoy healthy choices, then there's a good chance they'll become a permanent fixture in your diet.

As cooking healthily requires less salt, fat and sugar than we are often used to, this can be a challenge, but using fresh herbs and spices can really boost the flavour of healthy dishes.

This chicken dish is delicious and light on calories. The combination of garlic, ginger, coriander (cilantro), lime, honey and soy sauce is seriously tasty.

Whilst many people like to cook Asian-type dishes with sesame oil, try to avoid this as the delicate oils get damaged over high heat.

Olive oil is the most resilient oil over heat, so I recommend that you cook this recipe with a light olive oil (to avoid the distinctive olive oil flavour) and then stir through the sesame oil when the dish is off the heat.

This way you can enjoy he flavour of sesame oil and the health benefits (omega 6 good fat) at the same time.

Chicken with Ginger, Coriander and Lime! Serves 2.

Ingredients:

* 4 oz stir-fry rice noodles

* 2 tsp light olive oil

* 2 small cloves garlic, minced

* ½ tbsp minced fresh ginger

* ½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces

* 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

* 1 ½ tsp toasted sesame oil

* 1 tbsp fresh lime juice

* 1 tsp honey

* Large pinch chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)

* ¼ cup chopped salad onions

* Lime wedges for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook the rice noodles (or angel hair wheat pasta) according to directions, although I find the rice noodles need a little longer to make sure they are al dente so check them before you drain them.

2. Heat the 2 tsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for two minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the chicken and cook through. Add soy sauce, honey and lime juice. Bring to a simmer. Add pasta and cook 1 minute to heat through, stirring frequently.

4. Remove from heat and stir in coriander, sesame oil and scallions. Serve with lime wedges and a large green salad.

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist. She can be contacted at clinicalnutrition@gmail.com.