1) Always eat breakfast
2) Eat three small meals and at least two snacks a day
3) Have you meals composed of as much Real Food as possible - yummy fruits, veggies, lean meats, whole grains - rather than processed trans fat extruded corn meal snack foods

Happy New Year! I discovered your blog just the other day, and you are an amazing inspiration!

Happy New Year :}

First of all, lots of people say "don't diet" and that's how you'll lose weight. What they really should be saying is that a diet implies a temporary condition. "Oh, I'm dieting" -- and one day, you won't be.

As you've discovered slowly, it is a full lifestyle change. You're not dieting, you're living a completely different life than you did a few years ago -- one that includes exercise and homemade food preparation, as well as other things.

I found that once I got in shape, even though I wasn't (and still am not) at my ideal weight, I actually chose to do activities that might involve sweating or exertion. Several of my most recent vacations have been ones where I go hiking. I love the idea of taking a vacation, seeing great scenery -- and coming back without having packed on weight. So that's one thing I'd say: No diet, but not because you shouldn't be paying attention. Don't diet -- be prepared to change your life.

Another thing I'd say is this: Whatever your goal is, bear in mind your body may simply have other plans. I'd love to be 125. I'm never, never, never getting there. And that's not because I'm not working hard enough. I am right now the same weight I was in high school. I'd like to be less, by about 20 more pounds. It's a weight a lot of people would see as heavy, but after 20 years of dieting (since high school) I know I'm probably pretty close to what my body plans on being the rest of my life. The best I can hope for now is to feel happy in my clothing, get a clean bill of health from the doctor, and know I'm doing regular exercise and general eating well. I need my body to live; I don't want to live for my body.

Hope that makes some kind of sense! You're doing great, by the way, I'm very impressed.

Last night, my friend's son got a yo-yo. He wasn't good at it and was bemoaning that fact. I said, give yourself a break and practice. You just don't learn to do this overnight. And as I was saying it, I realized that it's true for just about everything in life, isn't it? You just don't wake up and know how to do everything really well.

Thanks for another great post! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, WL Wonderwoman!

And now I have breathed in some coffee...

Actually, talking as someone who splits the cooking with her husband, it's a semi-bad idea to get your OH to do all the cooking, unless he really understands about portion sizes. Mine has enormous difficulty not serving me more than I'd take for myself. Once it's on the plate, I have a terrible tendency to eat it.

Yeah, I know, I have to work on that part myself.

The other thing I've learned is that this process – losing weight, getting healthy, going on a diet, whatever you choose to call it – has to be my main priority. I've been obsessed with it for a year. The difference is that I can be obsessive on my blog, instead of with my friends, acquaintances and husband.

Although he doesn't mind.

I can't remember when I found your blog, but I'm ever so grateful I did.

Thanks for your wise words, your sense of humor, your perserverence. You've helped more people then you know.

My tip is to never give up! I lost a lot and through bad stress gained back a lot. I'm back on track. I'm so happy to report that I just jogged on my lunch break and ate a healthy lunch (veggie soup and an orange). Sorry ...that's going away from my point. Anyway ...here are a couple of quotes that inspire me.

Don't give up what you REALLY want for what you want RIGHT NOW.

also...

Every excess becomes a vice! (soooooo true).

Drink mostly water and lots of it. I gave up coca-cola 3 yrs ago and don't regret it. I do have my morning coffee, though.

Again, many thanks PQ.

I have been learning all these "things nobody told me" also. It's not the easy fix that people hope to find... but it is the key to making this permanent for sure. Thanks for sharing!

I have discovered single serving cups of jello sugar free pudding in the dairy section - Yummy!

Oh and it's very helpful to buy things packaged in single servings. Even if you have more than one you know exactly how many calories you've had.

Have realistic goals - I'll NEVER be thin. I look and feel best around 170-175 - I'm 5'-6". I don't expect to be 130, which some stupid chart claims is my ideal weight.

Most of all, pay attention to what and how much you eat. I can put away a ton of food and not pay any attention to the amount I'm packing away until I'm stuffed. Too late! And I serve my supper on a salad plate, unless part of the meal is salad which requires a bit more room on a plate.

Some people struggle with appetite and cravings to the point of feeling so hungry all the time that they eventually stop trying to lose weight. It's important to know that you don't have to go through these things alone and there is lots of help available but you have to take the initiative to do it.

You can control that the weight falls off, but not necessarily where it comes off. It'll all go down, but not all at once. How nice of my boobs to shrink and give me a better view of my roly stomach and chubby thighs! That is definitely the view I anticipated when I decided to no longer eat 4 pizza pops for lunch every day. Eventually, it all goes down, but it sure falls off in weird places sometimes.

You will piss people off. People like stasis. Your regular lunch buddy will feel as though you're rejecting them, even if you explain that you just can't eat that food anymore. Your mom will be hurt when you don't gobble all of the butter tarts she made at Christmas (but seriously...gobble some. It's Christmas, and I'm pretty sure baby Jesus was ticked that the second wiseman brought Frankincense and not butter tarts)

You will get sick of people asking you how you did it. Especially when they are the same people who have sat in morning meetings with you, watching you eat your nice banana while they eat delicious donuts. The worst part is that the people who annoy you most will inevitably ask you in situations where it is not appropriate to answer "Crystal Meth. Balls that there are always bugs crawling on me, but anything to be skinny!"

I would also like to add "be prepared for change" because I have needed to mentally prepare myself for, not only the lifestyle changes, but the physical changes that occur when lifestyle changes are consistent. Sure, I might have dreamed of being thin, but once 20 lbs is gone, or 50 lbs, there can be a bit of separation anxiety from "the old me". Also, be prepared for budget/expense changes when cooking your own meals and having to buy new clothes!

(sorry this comment is late but I just got your book and am reading through the archives!)