ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley thought he could manage his weight on his own. He was wrong.

Fairley declined advice to hire a personal chef last year during OTAs, and instead played much of the season north of 320 pounds. He did slim to 295 pounds during minicamp this year, but ballooned back up to more than 320 pounds during training camp.

He was demoted to the second team for the final three weeks of the preseason. And that, finally, got his attention. He can't do this on his own.

So after Fairley was demoted, he hired a personal chef to manage his diet.

"That's something that we been having in plan since even OTAs last year," Fairley said after Monday's practice. "I just never really got along with it. I felt like I could do it on my own. But I went to him afterwards and said, 'Look, let's give it a shot. Give it a try.'"

The chef prepares a week's worth of meals, then stuffs them in Fairley's freezer. Fairley brings his breakfast and lunch to the Lions' training facility, and eats dinner at home.

His diet includes meat loaf, baked potatoes, salmon, stir fry and chicken.

The move has worked. Fairley has slimmed back to 305 pounds, which he says is his ideal playing weight. And the club has rewarded his efforts by reinstating him on the first team for the opener next Monday against the New York Giants.

"Felt real good," he said. "Preseason, that's when you knock off the rust coming into the season. I just feel like those last three preseason games, got my rest up, and now I'm ready to go for Monday Night Football."

The key, though, is to avoid the kind of yo-yo back up the scale that has plagued him in the past.

Fairley is a former first-round pick who oozes talent, but he's had trouble maintaining a high level of play either because of injury or performance issues. He hopes to maintain his current weight, which could lead to a more consistent performance in his contract year.

His track record isn't good, but taking a proactive approach with a personal chef is a sign he's trying to get his life in order.

"I wouldn't say nothin' changed (after the demotion)," Fairley said. "It just opened my eyes up that I need to play more consistent."