Have to Loose 35# Nothing Has Helped Yet....

J. , I totally understand what you are going through. i have 2 boys 14&10 and i need to lose and have been trying and failing for 10 years. i am at the highest i have ever been. i am also 5 ft but i weigh 209. i would love being 145 right now. i have the same problem all i want to do is sleep and i have no motivation either. my husband works out 5 days a week and trys to get me to go. but who's taking the kids to practices and making sure dinner is done before they go ? me. i am the same. i love my husband and family and dont have time for me. the trainers at the rec center we belong to are wonderful. i have taken classes and they try to motivate me as as well. and told me to do lots of cardio at least 30-40 min. 3-5 days a week.. get the heart rate up and cut the calories. i also did well when i was accountable to them. but practices for football are at the same time my classes would be..it is hard and i hate it..i get worried my husband will find someone else skinnier to be with. then i get depressed and eat more...i also did Medifast and that was shakes. i lost 22lbs. but that was a struggle because i was hungry...i had testing done a couple of years ago to and my results were normal...he said i needed to lose weight... maybe a heart attack should happen and that will kick me in gear i don't know. but i need help to... what to do ?????? C.

Hey -

I have done every single one of the plans out there... Weight Watchers, Slim In 6, South Beach, Slimfast, Slim for Life, Body for Life, Atkins, you name it. They can all work, if you are seriously committed to them. They are all diets, and they require serious life changes to make them work. If you lose your gusto because they are too restrictive, you will likely bounce back to an even higher weight.

I have recently started with Isagenix, which is NOT a diet, it is a nutritional cleansing program that happens to have a side effect of weight loss. Although I take 2 meal replacement shakes or protein bars a day, both are loaded with the best nutrients you can get, I am not hungry. I eat one sensible meal a day and I have lost 17 lbs and feel amazing! My mom is down 26, my stepdad is down 24, my boyfriend has lost 12 lbs, his friend lost 11 lbs in 9 days, my brother lost 8 lbs in 9 days, and we have a slew of other friends that are just using mix and match items for more energy, alertness, and better sleep. Check out www.invigoratinglife.isagenix.com or www.myspace.com/cristinhobbs. I would love to help you in any way that I can!

Remember, whatever you do is better than nothing at all, more than 50% of the US is considered overweight, so you are not in this alone. ( : Best of luck!

C.

Hi J.. Well, it sounds like you are doing lots of things right! I will tell you about a product that has seemed to help a lot of people in your shoes. It may not necessarily help you lose weight, but does sometimes curb cravings and is terrific for energy and mood improvement. It's called Juice Plus. It is simply 17 raw fruits and veggies in a capsule! It contains all of the naturally occuring nutrients, enzymes, fiber, and antioxidants found in fruits nad vegetables and provides such a great variety every day that our bodies just thrive with all of the natural benefits! My entire family has been taking it for 2 years (my boys eat the gummies and chewables) and I can definitely see the benefits. My children are rarely sick and I can tell a difference in my energy level. Many people I know comment on how if they take it during their afternoon sleepy/snacky time, they get more energy and want to snack less. It may also help with blood sugar swings resulting in moodiness. There are also products that include the fruit and veggie powders that are aimed for weight loss and gaining lean muscle mass (little snack wafers called "Thins") and a shake mix/meal replacement called "Complete". It is so hard to get our bodies what they need on a daily basis and this is such a simple solution! The research done on this product is amazing! If you have any questions or want more info, let me know or take a look at: www.HamreHealth.com. Take Care and Good Luck!

Hi J.,

I have just the plan for you!!! I didn't read the other comments but I want to let you know that your description of yourself was me just 4 months ago! Only I'm much more obese than you! I was moody, irritable, couldn't lose weight, and I work out 6 days a week!

Then I got a book from the library (1/2 price books has it too) from Jorge Cruise called "The 3-Hour Diet". The library has the recording of it as well, which is what I got first. I don't do the imaging part but I do the diet and it has worked wonders.

The hardest part for me was getting used to eating so much meat and protein. So it sounds perfect for you in that way. And the first 3 days was hard because you eat less at each meal but you eat 6x a day. So I had to tell myself, "I can eat more in 3 hours!" That helped so much!

And the first thing to go is belly fat--just like Jorge says. I'm still doing it and I'm averaging 2# a week loss. And this is someone who's worked out 6 days a week for a year and couldn't lose a #!

Hope this helps!
A. S.

So all the research and magazines say to drink your 8 glasses of water a day and get enough sleep...your kidneys and liver cannot flush out fat without those two things and you will never lose weight...also weight training is important because the more muscle you have the more calories you burn even while you are sitting...but ultimately the most important is your diet and so i suggest portion control...pretend your plate is cut into quarters, 2 quarters should be veggies and/or fruits and the other two should be 1 part lean meats and 1 part whole grains...if you are going to eat something not so great eat not quite a portion and make to sure to eat pretty good the rest of the day...this way of eating got me from 5 foot 4 inches and 207 lbs at delivery to 137 (20 lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight) in less than 8 months for my wedding and i have maintained it for over two years and don't worry now that i got to where i want to be i just watch what i eat 70% of the time...hope this helps

Hey - First of all - good for you for getting out and exercising, eating healthy, and taking care of your children and husband! A mom's job is never done, and just give yourself a pat on the back for doing it all! Well, trust me when I say I understand your issue. I am 5'2, and in my thirties with a little more weight (had a baby !). I actually have been in the fitness industry for about 6 years now. Doing 3 days of exercise is great; but if you really want to lose, you may try 5-6 days. 3 is great for maintenance, but to really take it off, give yourself three extra days of about an hour of cardio. Make sure you get some strength training in there too! As always, make sure your doctor knows you are doing an exercise program. Oh, try looking at www.strollerstrides.com! It's great! Hope there is one in your area! Good luck!

Exercise, exercise, exercise. It is the only way to lose a large amount of weight. I know it is hard to get motivated but push yourself to do it everyday for one week and you will feel so much better you will want to exercise. It gives you a lot of energy. Try to get your husband involved. If you can both work out together you can really challenge each other. If you can't join a gym if you have Time Warner cable they have exercise TV on demand. It is free and there are about a hundred excercise videos on there. Try the cardio ones. Most of the videos are only 30 minutes each. Your goal should be 30 min of cardio a day. This combined with a healthy diet (no take out) and you will begin to see results very soon. Good luck and have fun.

I would try to record every bite that goes into your mouth for 2 weeks. Then look back at it to see where changes need to be made in your diet, and portions. It can be eye opening. I hope this helps.

This is all tough stuff for me to do, so trust me, I don't think it is easy even though I'll come off sounding that way. Cut the carbs, sugar and drinks (do you drink)? Also, you say you "make an effort" to exercise 3x a week. I suggest actually working out 5x a week while trying to lose and making sure you are doing cardio at least 3 of those workouts. If you are running, run on the street vs. treadmill.

Did the doc check your thyroid levels? Thyroid problems can give you the symptoms you mentioned. I might even get a second opionion. Good luck! It is hard!

Dear J.,

I spent 4 months of my pregnancy on bedrest and shot up to 183 pounds. I am 5'2". I was so depressed about it, and knew I had to get serious. That is when I joined weight watchers on line. My daughter is six months old and I am now down to 136 and losing each week. Its cheap and you don't need to go anywhere. But be aware, it is not alot of food, especially if you are a meat eater. The purpose of the program is to help you learn to eat for pleasure and nutrition without OVEREATING. The bottom line is that unless there is a medical problem, if you are not losing weight, you are overeating. (Someone mentioned a Thyroid problem, and if doctor has not checked this, he/she should.) The Science is basic. You need to burn more calories than you take in. Period. It does not matter what the calories are from. Granted, cutting certain types of calories like sugars, carbs and fats may accelerate your weightloss, but unless you are never planning on eating that stuff again, be prepared to gain those pounds back. Its not realistic. Merely reducing them will have a significant effect on your calorie intake, as well as many other health benefits, and its a change that most people can live with and eventually embrace. I also started exercising more, light dumbells at home (a regime that takes .5 hours a day that I found in Prevention magazine), and I am walking/jogging in the mornings every other day for .5 to .75 minutes. Unfortunately because of schedule I do this at 5 am.

I have been into health and fitness all of my life and my weight gain crushed me! The bottom line is that there is no quick fix. It will take a long time whatever program you choose, and the change will need to be for a lifetime or the weight will come back. Fat cells merely shrink, they don't disappear.

Good luck to you! Remember, true weightloss is a marathon. Grueling and long, but upon completion, total elation! Hopefully in a year you will be looking at pictures of yourself wondering....Was that me???

Hi J.! This should help. First, drink one large glass of water before a meal, during a meal, and after a meal. You will notice a signifigance decreased appetite. Also, eat your meals on quarter plates, cut your food into very small pieces and once it's spread out on your plate, it looks like lots of food! :) Eat VERY slowly. Easy, but simple ways to lose weight!

I didn't read everyone's comment so this may have been mentioned already but....here goes. If you feel like something is going on in your body and the Dr. says your fine....FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR! I mean even the greatest doctors are only human. I went through this after my daughter was born...still struggling with the weight, but the no energy, moodiness issue was solved almost immediately. You should have a Thyroid test. If you have already had one and your Dr. says it's fine then do research on your own. My Dr. continually told me that there was nothing wrong with my thyroid, but I didn't belive him so I got my test results and starting researching. He was wrong! I went to an endocronologist and he told me immediately what was wrong without even seeing my blood tests.
Here is what I did:
1) Get your thyroid tested-if you go to a specialist to begin with you will probably have the best luck. I recommend Dr. DeVries in Dallas. His office # is ###-###-####, SW corner of Preston and Forest. He is an old school European Dr. so he is a little hard to understand but he KNOWS what he is doing!

2) If you have already had a thyroid test done they may not have even done the full test, but get whatever results are available and then read this website: http://thyroid.about.com/mbiopage.htm

3) Check your levels and see what it says about them here: http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/blood...

This is a good place to start. Hope this helps!
Good Luck and God bless!

Hi J.:
I gained a large amount of weight in just one year, due to some medication I was on. I tried lots of stuff, too, including diet pills. The only thing that worked for me was Weight Watchers. I went to my first meeting (only 30 minutes long) and got the materials. I was hungry the first week (because I had to cut down on junk food), but after that, I was hooked. I lost 1-2 pounds per week and in just 9 months, I'd lost all the weight I'd put on the year before. I don't always go to the meetings--sometimes I just go weigh in and go home. I like it so much I went to work for them. I work in Heath on Saturday mornings. I'd love to see you there!

I have to say I agree with the depression check. I actually lost weight after being put on depression medication. I was much more motivated, and able to accomplish the things I wanted to accomplish. I know that exercise helps the depression, but sometimes you need a kick start to get there! But yes, at the end of the day, it's burn more than you eat, and there is no quick fix around that.

My doctor actually helped me with a diet and exercise plan that was very reasonable. He told me to go for a fast walk , at least 45 minutes, up to 1.5 hrs, more days than not every week, and do 3 days a week of light strength training (pilates counts!). I just picked up a 25 minute video and did that.

Don't push yourself to eat "perfectly" or follow a diet, but be aware of whats going in. Definitely try that food journal for 2 weeks or so! You'd be amazed how it all adds up! The US Government food guide pyramid is a great place to reference. You can enter your height/weight, if you are trying to lose or maintain, and it will walk you through how much of each food group you should be getting in. Definitely puts things in perspective!

Do you eat a lot of "take out" food? I recently learned that restaurant food packs on up to 60% additional calories than if you eat at home. I don't think you will need to cut out meat altogether - in fact, I also recently read that vegetarians sometimes actually gain weight. I tried a vegetarian diet and actually gained weight myself. Maybe you can try some tactics like - salad dressing (and condiments) on the side, bake instead of fry foods, limiting yourself to one snack/soda a day, etc. You don't want to deprive yourself of your "vices" - which mine is sweets. Just try to limit it, but treat yourself once in a while.

I'm also a HUGE advocate of exercise. There is a very simple equation but it seems to make lots of sense: "Calories In - Calories Out". If you consume more than you use, you will gain weight (and vice versa). If it fits with your budget, find a gym with a daycare and try to go more often each week. Find something that you enjoy - not everyone likes the treadmill, I know. Finding an exercise you look forward to (or at least don't dread) will help you keep to your workout plan. And, recruit a friend to join you as well if possible.

Within the first 2-3 years of dating my now hubby, he gained 80 lbs. Then, when his boss made a $1,000 bet that he wouldn't lose 20 lbs in 4 months, my DH actually lost that, and more. In fact, he lost 100 lbs in less than 2 years. All he did was eat low-fat foods, cut out the junk food, and worked out A LOT - nothing else. Today, he's ran 9 marathons (including the Boston Marathon), and he's currently training for the White Rock Marathon in December. He is living proof that it can be done!

Best of luck to you!!

I have several friends that used the 6 week body makeover plan. I am starting in tuesday. Its a new way of eating for life..but I have seen it work! You blue print your body to a specific type and eat foods that help you burn fat. You actually eat alot..just the right foods. Here is the website.

mybodymakeover.com

Run outside for 30 minutes. It's better than running on a treadmill. If you can do 4 days that even better. With my first born I bought a jogging stroller and ran with him after work. I lost my baby weight and 5 more. Your stomach will also tone up from the running.

Try the South Beach diet! You can eat as much lean meat as you want, so you won't go hungry. The first two weeks are the most restrictive phase (no grains or fruit or any kind of sugar or starch - only lean meat, low-fat dairy, lots of vegetables, and some nuts/seeds and healthy oils.) Most people lose around 10 pounds in the first 2 weeks alone, and 1-2 lbs a week after that. If you follow this plan closely (no cheating!) you WILL lose weight, and rather quickly too! I've lost over 20 lbs already. After the first two weeks you start slowly adding in fruit and healthy whole grains. Get the book The South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatson for more information - most libraries have it so you don't even have to buy it. Good luck!

Hello Jen,
Sounds like me and you were one of a kind at a point. I am 26, 5 ft tall and in May I was 168 lbs. I am now 135 lbs and still losing. I anticiapte that by mid Sept I will be 125lbs. I lost the weight by getting on this special program. I went to a bariatric doctor in Florida, but I know there are some of those doctors here. You dont do surgery and you lose the weight in a healthy way, really fast and keep it off. It is a series of visits to the doctor. The doctor puts you on a special eating schedule, designed for your body. You get Vitamin B12 shots every week and take a number of different vitiamins and pills daily. The pills consist of vitamins, calcium fat burners and an appetite suppressant. It is a costly program, I spent a total of around $600 to date but it works. I even stopped doing it for a month in the middle since I was unable to go to Florida and I kept the weight off and stayed the same weight even when continuing my regular eating habits. Its really awesome and you feel so much healthier. It doenst even require that you exercise although it is recommeneded. The hardest part about it is sticking to the foods they tell you to eat and also the quantities. The appetite suppressants help and the whole program is designed to speed up your metabolic rate, change the way your body digests food and ultimatley change your lifestyle. My sister is on it too and she has also lost around 30lbs. I can give you my doctors information but he is in Florida. I know there are a few here in Dallas but I dont know where. There are only a handful of doctors in the US that are certified to administer the program. Let me know if you want more info.

Don't know where you live, but I just finished my first boot camp with Kelli Calibrese. She's awesome! I'm like you, no energy, moody, etc. And, I'm NOT a morning person at all!! I still don't remember why I decided to sign up, but I'm so glad I did! It meets in argyle at 5:30 in the morning, for 1 hour. The first week was hard, but by the second week, I felt good, was more positive, and even my house was running more smoothly. She has great energy, and a WONDERFUL program- she's also very aware of the food choices that most moms make, and helps to re-train your cravings for more positive choices. If that's too far for you, you might look up www.gfit.com. Its another pair of women who are starting boot camps. They offer more time options, I think. Again- I can't say enough how much this WASN'T me- but I loved it so much I'm signing up for another one. Good luck!

You've gotten some really good advice. I eat low carb just to feel good and keep from gaining. I would also suggest fitday.com or other similar sites that let you log what you eat each day. The basic program is free and it makes it easy for you to see how many calories, fat, protein and carbs you've eaten each day. At first it can be tedious to add the nutrition information for the different foods you eat if you eat a lot of processed foods like I do, but once they're in there you're good to go.

I lost 10 lbs doing jazzercise they have childcare and it is soo fun. It is in southlake where I go but they are all over.
It is dancing and you burn alot of calories. I also swim in my pool too.
L. T

The going going gone weight loss supplemetn from Arbonne helped me lose my baby weight and now i weigh less than i when i got pregnant! it will give you energy and curb your appetite, the natural way, with no ephedra! let me know if you'd like to try some for free.
J. C. regional vp
www.jennifercaldwell.myarbonne.com

i am in the same boat as you
i already send you a diet i hope it works

good luck

G.:)

Hi, I very much know how you feel. I can help with the energy and the moodiness. Someone told me about cell food. You can buy it at a natural food store. You can buy them cheaper at amazon.com. Go to http://www.luminahealth.com/ you can learn more about it. I have energy again. I didn't think it would work, but wow. My Dr. had me on Wellbutrin for alittle depression issue. With the cellfood I am able to cut back on it. It's been great. I also want you to know that you are not the only one. I have struggled with my weight since my second child and that was 7 years ago.

My husband lost 52 lbs in 1 year, he stayed on 15 grams of fat per day, all the veges you want and salads, no fried foods and about 100 grams of sugar per day and walking every day.

Find a gym that has childcare and bump up the physical activity to 5 times a week.
Weight watchers really does help. I have a friend who has had very stubborn pounds and she is finally sticking to the points system and dropped 8 pounds in 2 weeks. She's never had that kind of success!
The exercise will help with the moods too. Especially if you get a personal trainer to start you off -- maybe meet with one twice a week for a month. When I did this back in January, not only did I tighten up the belly flab, I was a generally much happier person and had more energy.

There's no easy way out of the weight, girl. It's a lifestyle change that is hard to make. I didn't get around to it until my youngest was nearly 2, and I had a girlfriend join me, which helped a LOT.

Hi Jen, I can understand that you have 3 kids and a husband. However,one of the things you stated is that you don't have time to make special meals. If you were following a recipe and it was you mother's special and you loved it, would you change anything? The same is for losing weight. There is a recipe and if you don't follow it, you won't get the results you are looking for.
So, if you want to lose weight what is it you are willing to sacrifice to get the result? Remember your weight is a result of what you do and what you don't do.

Have you tried the Adkins diet? I LOVE meat and I love this diet, and it really really works. I eat as much as I want, but at first it's really hard b/c you can't eat carbs at first. But eventually you'll be able to put them back in your diet. Plus if you work out you don't have to be that strict after about a month. Try it I swear by it....

I HIGHLY recommend the Isagenix health and Wellness cleansing program. I had many of the same issues as you. No energy, tired, headaches, hard time sleeping at night and of course the extra 50 pounds. I have never felt better than I do now.
www.kristinestell.isagenix.com or you can email or even call and I can tell you more about it.
It also has a 30 day money back guarantee, that's what encouraged me to do it. And also there are no harmful products in Isagenix.
K. Estell ###-###-####

J.,

Hi. I've tried every diet out there and yo yo'd for years until I found Weight Watchers. It's the only diet that works for me. It's easy to do and very healthy-a life style change really. There's no special food to eat, just food portion control. You attend one meeting a week for an hour or less. If you absolutely can't stay, you can just weigh in and leave. I think you can do the program on-line. The weigh in is private and nobody knows except you and the person working there. I lost 25 pounds 6 years ago and every time I gain a little weight I pull out my materials and do the plan at home-no more meetings for me. I've had two children since and always lose the weight when I start eating better even without exercise. Good luck.

D.

J.,

I have constantly fought my weight. In one year I gained 80 pounds. I was able to lose 70 of it just through good diet and exercise. The weight gain was d/t severe depression. The weight loss was part of my recovery.

I am more concerned with your last paragraph. Being tired with no energy and having mood swings is a sign of depression. Maybe you should talk to your doctor about a script for depression. Some of these pills do add a few extra pounds, but not all. Your doctor should know which one to try.

I wish you luck. The battle of the buldge is hard. Hang in there and talk to your doc about depression.

L.

I can certianly empathize... I'm 5 fot 1 inch and I weigh 190lbs... of course I am 6 mo pregnant so no one says anything at the moment.... I too have an 11 mo old. I was under 100lbs my whole life and now close to DOUBLE what I was. It is very upsetting... I've never been so out of shape and it is embarassing as a Holistic Nutrition Major. I've simply had to accept that this is what my body looks like right now, my husband loves it, and I'm beautiful and curvy even if I'm not the size I would like to be... I have to love me as I am... because it is what is for the time being.

Once my second is born my plan is to eat according to the South Beach diet which is just sensible eating really (fresh fruits/ veggies, lean meats, whole grains, olive oil etc) and work out 5 times a week... swim in the am and do cardio,pilates, weights and yoga in the pm with my hubby... our gym has a daycare that is awesome so once new baby is 3 mo we can go. And from experience I know that I'll relish that alone time!

Pilates is great for abs and if that is your problem area you'll want to combine muscle building/toning which Pilates can give you with cardio... which again if done right Pilates can give you. Swimming is also great... it is a full body aerobic workout that is very low impact. I'd also throw out those shakes... you are MUCH better off getting your calories from fooods high in fiber it is much more filling and better for you...eat more raw foods (veggies that is. You may also want to try a Flush... alot of the middle weight can be old rotting food still in your intestins... gross I know, but a good flush if you are willing and stick with it can eliminate 25lbs of waste stuck inside your intestins. Its amazing. On Lancaster St. in Ft. Worth there is a little Health Food Store called Herb N Health and the lady who owns it, Karen... is amazing she can help you get started on a fantastic flush that is all natural (she sells the herbs in bulk as well as the unfiltered apple juice, psyllium and the jars you'll need).

Good Luck!!! You CAN do it! In the mean time... know that beauty comes in all sizes and love your body for all it does for you!!!

I know some people have mentioned this, but I really love the South Beach Diet. It targets your tummy area first. I tried it after my second baby and it worked really well. I lost all of my baby weight in about 6 months and I often had little cheats here and there, especially with ice cream. (I am not the Hollywood type who loses it all in 2 weeks). The diet does not beat you up about exercise. Yes, exercise is good and important, but that is not the focus of the diet plan. For me, the diet just taught me how to eat right for a healthy lifestyle forever. Good luck. You can do it.

Hi J.,
I know this may be something totally outside of what you might consider but as far as the excercise I have to recommend a pole dancing session. This is actually a great all over body workout not so much extreme cardio but you will get the heart rate up and at the same time that you are burning calories you will be leaning the muscle with nothing more than your own body weight. Something else to consider I noticed everybody addresses weight and diets but do take into consideration your inches you want to slim down healthy if you get an opportunity whatever you decide make sure to take measurements you could actually already be changing your body without loosing pounds but instead increasing muscle which will weigh more than fat

Dealing with the emotional aspects of what you are going through is also something that you get to address because we deal a lot with body image and how we view the things we find negative about our body from the inside out. After my second pregnancy I went through a lot of things both physically and emotionally and this is just one of the options that has worked for me! If you do consider pls feel free to email

Dear J.,

You can try Weight Watchers on-line. No meetings to go to, but advice when you can get it. They have two plans available. One of them is called the Core Plan. You have a list of foods- -mostly fruits, vegetables, lean meats and high fiber grains that you can eat from. You don't count points, you just have to pay attention to your body and eat until you are satisfied, but also make sure you get 5 servings of fruits/veggies and 2 of milk a day. You eat mainly from that list, but can allow yourself a few things off the list each week-- you do have to count those points, but at least it is not all of the time.

I understand how you feel. I have 4 more inches on you but also 50 pounds. WW has worked for me in the past-- I just started back again 2 weeks ago and feel really good about my decision. I dreaded it because I did not think I had time to go to meetings or count points either, but I also know I cannot continue the way I am so decided I needed to find a way to make this work. I too have been asked if I am pregnant and for an infertile person, that is kind of a double whammy! (My daughters are adopted-- can't even blame my weight on pregnancy!)

Good luck to you, hoping you can find a way to better health!
A.

There is a book called LEAN Mommy by Lisa Druxman that addresses all the issues you seem to be having. Other diet programs etc are not realistic b/c they are temporary and do not require lifetyle changes. I have found her book to be the most realistic Mommy-friendly book that not only helps us to be healthy, but also happy and the best moms we can be! I have also found that getting a support system of other people who are dealing with similar issues also helps. Hope this helps:)

J., you might do well with the South Beach program if you want to do it on your own. I know that nutri-systems worked for my friend, and you might look into LA weightloss. Nutri-systems does not require you to attend any meetings, I don't know about LA weightloss. I also had a friend that went to Jenny Craig and lost her post-pregnancy weight. I think that Jenny Craig requires meeting with a weight loss counselor at their office though.

You might not like it, but I lost a lot of weight fast when I was breastfeeding and found out my son was allergic to tons of food. So, I gave up wheat, eggs, milk, & nuts for him. Milk, of course, included cheeses, etc. You might not be able to do all, but cutting out cheese, milk and bread will probably show a significant difference. I also rarely eat red meat and I try to get at least 5 servings of veggies and fruit. I also cut out (almost completely) sugar- no soda, honey when baking and in tea, homemade ice cream (w/ half the sugar of the recipe.) A lot of homemade meals so I can control that the ingredients are good for me. Good luck

No matter what diet and exercise plan you try you have to change your self image at the same time. There is a book called "With Winning in Mind" by Olympic Gold Medalist, Lanny Bassham (his office is in Flower Mound by the way). Anyway I have heard of several people who combining his Mental Management System with weight loss diets/exercise have seen great results. If all you do is change your eating habits but do not take the time to change your self image to someone who eats healthy and exercises the results will be short lived. Losing weight should be a life change or you will be gaining and losing your whole life.

Hope that helps. Here is a link to the book - it wasn't written for weight loss but may really help no matter your goals: http://www.mentalmanagement.com/a_wwim_book.html