We know dieting is hellish. But, based on slimming factor new research, doing it with your partner is even worse - couples who try to slim together not just become overly competitive, but they argue more as their calorie-starved brains lack the energy for self control.

To test the theory, we challenged Tom Baker, 33, an operations manager of a construction company, and his wife Helen, 44, to take a weight-loss plan together and keep a diary of how it affected their marriage.

For 8 weeks the pair, from St??Margaret's, Kent, followed a low-carb, high-protein diet and gruelling workout programme designed for them by nutritionist and fitness coach Nilufer Atik.

So, would their marriage survive?

My weight has been a steady 9st 7lb my life but after you have my youngest son, Noah, three years ago, I'm the heaviest I've ever been. I'm really proud of my size 10 figure, but simply couldn't lose the infant weight to return to it. Even though I am a stay-at-home mum, it's hard fitting in exercise.

Around the first day's the weight-loss plan, I'd like to say I woke up raring to visit but after just four hours' sleep - Noah had tummy ache through the night - I felt just like a zombie.

I did try. I had been meant to start your day with 30 minutes of cardio but although I got up an hour early at 7am, I did not manage even ten minutes - Noah was so poorly, he cried if I left him alone.

When I'd seen Tom off to work and our other children Lucia, 13, and Theo, ten, to school, I needed to do piles of washing and ironing before picking the kids up again. I couldn't help thinking it was all right for Tom - he has got a gym near his work and doesn't need to bother about childcare so he is able to always squeeze inside a quick workout.

The diet's tough, too: my breakfast porridge am bland compared to my normal bacon and eggs, I had been tempted to nibble on the left-over toast and jam in the kids' breakfast. I threw it away - reluctantly. By lunchtime, I had been starving but I didn't find the prawn salad sandwich I'd designed for Tom and that i very filling.

TOM: 15st 1lb.
In Helen, I used to have a set stomach and go to the gym nearly every night after work, but a mix of having the kids and the 12-hour days I must work means I barely possess the energy to flop around the sofa every evening.
Around the first day, however, I forced myself to obtain up and out for a jog at 5am. After i returned, Helen was getting breakfast ready for the children.
It was mayhem, but luckily she's good at multi-tasking. She even helped me a packed lunch. I didn't require it, though. The porridge filled me up all day - much better than my usual buttered toast - so I threw away lunch.
When I got home at 7pm, I was more exhausted than normal and wolfed lida daidaihua old down the steak and vegetables Helen had cooked. She wasn't in a good mood and that i couldn't help noticing a half-eaten crumpet with jam near the sink. I didn't dare say a thing. Secretly, I could not help feeling pleased I'd not cheated. I believe I'm going to win this.
WEEK TWO