When it goes either way, it goes rapidly. For example, when I have fallen in love, I have lost a lot of weight because I’m more focused on the other person and not food.

When I have gotten depressed, I have gained weight because I use food as a reward to keep doing the things depression makes difficult.

I have also used medications that seemed to make me hungry all the time.

I have also lost weight trying different diets. I did low fat and lost weight.

I did low carbs and lost weight for free.

The trouble is, I have always gained the weight back and some more. So, now I am trying something new: being a regular human being.

Eating in moderation.

Making sure I exercise every day. My husband and I walk three miles a day and I avoid eating between meals and try to plan out what I am going to eat. When I am going to have a treat, I try to have a very small amount instead of what I would normally want to eat.

For example, today we had small ice cream cones at an ice cream place in contrast to the last time I went there when I had a big sundae.

It’s very frustrating because the weight is coming off VERY slowly.

I’m used to seeing a little bit of weight loss every day or two, but this is not that fast. Yet my doctor said I lost four pounds in about six weeks. At the same time, the other diets were not sustainable.

I think this way of approaching food is, and I really don’t want to be on this roller coaster any longer.

Nine years and another child later I decided to try it again, this time I was going to stick to it. I was 25 years old 5’8’ tall and I weighed 197 pounds. I hated myself.

I started my diet with a week long colon cleanse program. It was very hard at first because I would get really hungry. But I couldn’t each anything.

I lost 8 pounds with that. Then I replaced two meals a day with a high protein meal replacement. I ate whatever I wanted with the other meal. When I started to get real hungry I would suck on a piece of peppermint candy and drink a tall glass of ice water.

I took a multi vitamin and dared to eat anything after 8:00 pm.

Everyday I made sure I walked at least 2 miles a day. I didn’t have any money for a gym membership, times were hard, so I exercised through popular taped Aerobic programs.

Oh, and I also made sure I drunk one whole gallon of water for the day. I kept up with this program for about three months.

Negative twenty two pounds later, and I was closer to my goal weight of 135 pounds. After the weight loss I adjusted my protein meal replacement to only one replacement meal a day.

Through meditation and determination I have gained the confidence to achieve many other goals in my life. I guess the best is yet to come!

A good support group would also compliment an exercise program, just in case you tend to lose focus of whats important. The greatest weight loss secret is determination. Whether it is the will to see your children grow up, or the will to see another birthday.