Have you tried dieting but given up because it took too much willpower? The 5:2 diet is an exciting concept that takes away much of the difficulty by requiring you to count calories on just two days a week. The remaining five days you can eat whatever you normally would (within reason ). This approach is highly effective, as the author discovered for herself. Polly wrote this book to take the sting out of calorie-counting. Her search for a variation of meals for the low-calorie days led her to discover the delights of eating the vegetarian way. And by adopting a mindful approach to food she made her low-calorie days satisfying and much more enjoyable. This book includes a full chapter on mindful eating and a comprehensive explanation of why and how this diet works as well as how to cope with any initial difficulties. There are detailed meal plans for twenty-four low-calorie days for one person, three meals per day, with the calorie content of each ingredient listed. Every meal and each day is given its calorie total and to make things even easier there is an extremely useful calorie counter to refer to at the end of the book.

Mindfulness - the ability to live fully in each moment - is, in essence, a simple concept and one that is essential to really appreciate and live life to the full. Polly Fielding has found that practising it regularly has enabled her not only to cope effectively with anxiety, stress and depression but also to develop self compassion. With over 100 carefully chosen quotes from skilled practitioners she leads you bit by bit to understand the power of mindfulness in your everyday life. In the paperback version, every quote is accompanied by a variation on the little flower shown on the back of the book. This is a book to dip into mindfully: keep it by your bedside and choose a quote to meditate on as you drift off to sleep. Or select one in the morning to reflect on during your day.

From the first paragraph we are drawn into the mind and world of a trusting young child. Polly was adopted by a couple who already had a child of their own. We watch as her confidence and self-esteem are eroded by an increasingly abusive childhood. As she moves into teenage years and adulthood, Polly does not judge her adoptive parents but conveys her sheer desperation to prove somehow that she is loveable. We follow Polly's search for her birth mother, whom she eventually meets in the USA. She longs for a fairytale ending. But real life isn't quite like that... This heartfelt book about a relationship with two mothers is written in the present tense which gives it an immediacy and makes for a compelling read. "I was emotionally drained reading Polly's story. I was there with her every step. It's cruel that anyone would treat a human being in this way, especially a child. It's a miracle that she did survive." Helen Robinson, former Chief Executive, Lincoln MIND This book and its two related books, "A Mind To Be Free" and "Crossing The Borderline" are available as a single-volume trilogy under the title, "Letting Go," at a lower price than buying all three individually.

After successfully losing weight on the 5:2 diet, Polly Fielding gives a comprehensive explanation of why and how this easy-to-follow diet works so well for her and shows you how to make it work for you. Her book contains 24 tasty and varied, one-person menu plans for your reduced calorie days. Each ingredient (measured both in imperial and metric), every meal and the day's total are calorie-counted. Polly spreads her 500 calorie allowance over three meals a day to avoid any uncomfortable energy dips. She explains how to easily overcome any difficulties you may initially encounter on this diet. And she explores Mindful Approach to make preparing and eating food much more satisfying and enjoyable . This book also contains a helpful calorie counter and a calorie chart to enable you to mix and match meals to suit yourself.

Have you ever wished you could lose weight without depriving yourself of any of the foods you enjoy? Have you begun a diet and given up because it was too difficult? So did Polly, Lucy and Emily, who are following the 5:2 diet - an extremely popular and scientifically- proven way of eating. Each one has not only lost weight, kept it off and felt healthier than ever before, after years of unsuccessfully trying many other diets, but has also found the 5:2 method the easiest one both to stick to. Having written their own successful individual books about this diet, their enthusiasm has led them to combine their personal stories, experiences and resources to give you a comprehensive explanation of how and why this diet works so well. They explain clearly how to cope effortlessly with any initial difficulties and provide plenty of useful tips to make this diet a positive, enjoyable experience. You will find not only advice to enable you to gain the greatest benefit from the 5:2 diet but also an excellent variety of Lucy's delicious recipes, Polly's tasty daily menus and Emily's easy-to-make smoothies. Everything is calorie-counted and designed for individual servings. All the hard work is done for you They have devised an invaluable reference section, which includes an easy-to-use calorie counter, a calorie chart of all ingredients used in the book and a full index of recipes - giving you maximum choice and control over your weight-loss program. All weights and measures are given in both metric and imperial - so no awkward conversions to make. In short, in this book you have everything you need to make a complete success of the 5:2 diet with minimal effort

This is a compendium of three books, all interlinked and written from Polly Fielding's own experiences: - 'And This Is My Adopted Daughter' gives a unique and moving insight into the innocent mind and spontaneous feelings of a child who seeks only to be loved and accepted by her adopted family. Later, as a young adult she begins a desperate search to find her natural mother... In 'A Mind To Be free' the reader is drawn compellingly into Polly's daily struggle with relationships, work, bringing up a family ... until she can no longer fight the pain of her past experiences without expert help. Despite severe self loathing and several suicide attempts, she finally weaves a path through the maze of the mental health system to reach her goal. 'Crossing the Borderline' tells how Polly finds the courage to slowly and painfully let go of the past and learns to cope in constructive ways with her powerful negative emotions, her sense of rejection and feelings of worthlessness. Polly expresses herself throughout in the present tense, which gives a striking immediacy to her writing. Reviews of the individual books: "I was emotionally drained reading Polly's story. I was there with her every step. It's cruel that anyone would treat a human being in this way, especially a child. It's a miracle that she did survive." Helen Robinson, former Chief Executive, Lincoln MIND, on 'And This Is My Adopted Daughter' "A Mind To Be Free highlights how extremely hard it is for a person whose complex difficulties do not fit into simple categories of mental illness to find effective treatment. The author has had to struggle not only with her own problems but also with the weaknesses of mental health care." Rai Turton, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, on 'A Mind To Be Free' "A balanced account of the lived experience of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. This should be read by clinicians and service users alike. The first book to bring Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to life, this is a must-read for anybody who has an interest in this novel treatment." Paul Barrett, Nurse Specialist (Community Personality Disorders Service), Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust on 'Crossing The Borderline'

Polly Fielding has no idea what she is letting herself in for when, on impulse, she decides to blow her savings on a tiny apartment in Paris. She views it as an exciting adventure until, having paid the deposit, she comes face to face with reality. Struggling to use her rudimentary grasp of French, she tries to cope with a situation rapidly spirally out of her control. She desperately grapples with Parisian culture and the infamous French bureaucracy in her attempts to settle into what is at first an alien environment. Through trial and error (mainly error) she discovers the utmost importance of always observing French etiquette in shops, on public transport, in everyday life... We are introduced to a randy Italian plumber, a drunken French electrician, the Parisian from hell, Polly's all-too-English husband and their wayward daughter, not to mention the best and worst of Parisian toilets. Polly's passion for everything French and her bewilderment at the variety of ways in which the French differ from their British neighbours are very evident. Meanwhile, at the centre of everything is the 30 square metre apartment that Polly finally tranforms from a semi-derelict shell into a homely, peaceful oasis. Even if you are familiar with Paris you will enjoy an alternative view of this amazing city, whilst anyone who hasn't yet seen it will find themselves rushing to buy Eurostar tickets. And as for the title, read on to find out why it's more than just a corny pun... Fielding's affection for Paris and all things French shine through and make for a thoroughly enjoyable read. French Property News

After a successful year on the 5:2 diet, Polly Fielding gives a comprehensive explanation of why and how this diet works so well for her and how it can work for you. Her book contains 24 tasty and varied menu plans for your reduced calorie days. Each ingredient (measured both in imperial and metric), every meal and the day's total are calorie-counted. Polly spreads her 500 calorie allowance over three meals a day to avoid any uncomfortable energy dips. She explains how to easily overcome any difficulties you may initially encounter on this diet and explores a Mindful Approach to make preparing and eating food much more satisfying and enjoyable . This book also contains a helpful calorie counter and a calorie chart to enable you to mix and match meals to suit yourself. This version of the book contains several delightful full colour photos of food faces created by the author. Note: This book is also available without the illustrations at a lower price. Type "Polly Fielding" into Amazon to find it.

Polly Fielding had an extremely traumatic childhood. In her search for constructive coping strategies to deal with her powerfully painful emotions, she searched desperately and often in vain for help over many years. She read every available self-help book and consulted a variety of counsellors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists... Her stays in psychiatric hospitals made her realise that medication and locked doors were not the answer. A Mind To Be Free, is an honest and open account of her experiences and encounters with mental health professionals- the good, the bad and the downright ridiculous. She tells it as it really happened. It makes for a compelling read, illuminated by insights and the occasional flash of humour. "A Mind To Be Free highlights how extremely hard it is for a person whose complex difficulties do not fit into simple categories of mental illness to find effective treatment. The author has had to struggle not only with her own problems but also with the weaknesses of mental health care." Rai Turton, Chartered Clinical Psychologist This book and its two related books, "And This Is My Adopted Daughter" and "Crossing The Borderline" are available as a single-volume trilogy under the title, "Letting Go," at a lower price than buying all three individually.

Polly Fielding was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. This label carries a stigma, which can further isolate a sufferer who is already desperate and feels intense loneliness, while trying to cope with their powerfully negative emotions. Feeling unloveable and unacceptable, Polly had to fight for years to get the appropriate help, as she recounts compellingly in her book 'A Mind To Be Free'. She almost died in her efforts to convince the authorities that she deserved treatment. She was finally given a place in a therapeutic community. There are several therapeutic communities in the UK and USA. They exist to help people with long-term complex mental health problems to assist and support each other in learning to cope with their problems, under the guidance of trained psychiatric professionals. Polly Fielding spent almost a year in such a community, learning the skills of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to help combat her emotional difficulties. This was no easy ride. She writes about her day-to-day, sometimes unhappy experiences, and provide an insight into the benefits and pitfalls of being part of an enclosed society, where clients can often treat each other very harshly. She emerges with greatly increased insight, awareness and an ability to cope constructively with her daily emotional turmoil. This book will bring hope to those who feel abandoned, self-destructive and alone with the daily torture of their mental suffering. "A balanced account of the lived experience of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. This should be read by clinicians and service users alike. The first book to bring Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to life, this is a must-read for anybody who has an interest in this novel treatment." Paul Barrett, Nurse Specialist (Community Personality Disorders Service), Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust This book and its two related books,"And This Is My Adopted Daughter" and "A Mind To Be Free" are available as a single-volume trilogy under the title, "Letting Go," at a lower price than buying all three individually.

When Polly Fielding's son Nathan was diagnosed unexpectedly with severe haemophilia, the only thing she could recall about this blood disorder was "One scratch and you'll bleed to death." Based on the premise that knowledge eradicates fear, Polly thoroughly researched the subject, consulting with sufferers, haematologists and haemophilia nurse specialists. Polly takes us from the shock of diagnosis through the difficulties of coping with the reactions of Nathan's brothers and sister, who also have their say in this book. And she shows us how it is perfectly possible to live a normal, happy family life, with haemophilia receding into the background. This book is invaluable for any family where there is child with a disability. It has been recommended by both the London-based Haemophilia Society and the World Federation of Hemophilia. This is the just the kind of book that Polly would have wanted to read (if it had been available) when her small son was first diagnosed with haemophilia - empathic, informative and reassuring. The late Claire Rayner, writer, broadcaster and onetime chair of the Patients' Association, wrote about the paperback edition of this book: "Reading technical books about haemophilia is the easiest thing to do and the hardest way of learning what it is really like to have the disease in the family. This is the book you really need to get a rounded picture of what a very distressing genetic disorder can do to an average family. By all means read the technical books afterwards, but read this one first."