After being a vegetarian for 11 years, I just recently introduced meat to my diet -- turns out I was anemic. And this was after eating a very well balanced vegetarian diet. It all depends on your body type I guess.

I read about the book in the NY times yesterday. You might enjoy reading articl -- I'll email it to you. Good luck!

I live on a ranch but I really don't eat much meat although I love it. Moderation is the key! I try to do stretching exersize and started going to bosu ball and stabalization class. I also go to yoga that is offered thru the recreation district and is free. My sister runs three mornings a week and goes to Pilates the other three days and rides her bike on Sunday if it is warm. She eats fresh fruit and colorful veggies and yogurt, cottage cheese and fruit smoothies. Also eggs, nuts, salmon, beef or lamb but almost no carbs. She says she sleeps good if she exersizes as it relieves stress. Neither of us diet. Thanks for your blog, it is great.

This isn't something one should broadcast, cause it makes one hate the person talking, but in the last 3 months, I went from a size 12 to a size 4. I lost 4 inches around my hips and I literally made very little effort about the whole thing, so it was actually a bit of a shock. I did pilates 2-3 times a week and made a conscious effort to eat smaller portions and stop when I'm full. I had read the French Women Don't Get Fat book and it inspired me. I also read the "Real Foods" book, which encouraged me to eat less industrial food and more food in its natural state and it would appeal to your meat-eating husband. But I think stopping when you are full and not eating when you aren't hungry is key. So there you go.

When I tried being vegetarian for two months, I was hungry all the time and gained weight and was cranky to boot. When I tried low-fat diets I gained weight. If I try to skip meals -- I gain weight!

Finally I noticed that veggie and vegan diets and low-fat diets tend to be high-carb. If you cut out meat or fat, it's the sugar and starches that tend to be increased. I tried a low-carb diet (not quite Atkins but not too different) and that worked for me.

I also noticed that deprivation led to binges, as did eating sugar without protein. So for a few years after losing 30 lbs on the low-carb diet I kept away from sugar even as I reintroduced starch.

Now I am eating sugar again and eating 4 meals a day (or 3 plus two snacks) always making sure I get enough meat particularly when sweet treats are around.

I guess the gist of my story is to be sure you know what makes you feel satisfied and keeps you sane enough not to binge. It was such a waste of time for me to try certain diets that worked for other people but I should have known they'd never work for me. They may work for you so best of luck!

I was vegetarian once for several months and the inconsideration person I was dating at the time finally forced me to eat meat again. Why is a totally different story and too long to get into here. I still think about going vegetarian again, but there's no way my Hubby would do it. Instead I eat mostly vegetarian during the day and Hubby and I split a meat at dinner. He'll cook a steak and cut me off a small piece and I'll take extra veggies to make up the difference in filling my stomach. We're also eating a LOT less processed foods and are making more things from scratch. It's nice to know that we're getting fewer chemicals with our food.

Have fun picking a machine. I got a Pfaff a few years ago and love it!

I can't even picture you putting on weight. In fact, I don't believe you. ;-)

wow, i'm inspired by sundara. i really wish i could lose the baby fat right now but quitting breast feeding is going to be my key, i think. anyway, my advice is to cut out processed foods. eat more vegetables and homemade stuff. stop eating when you're full and only indulge in the yummy baked goods every now and again. this is how i generally eat when i'm not pregnant or breast feeding :) going to the gym helps too. running, meh! sorry can't help you there. i think running is boring and hard on your joints. classes are worth the money!

I really think that all of the major diets work. It is just a matter of finding the one that works for you so that you can comfortably keep with it. I have had great results with South Beach. It is the diet for people who love to eat. My cardiologist recommended it. Boredom does set in eventually, though. Right now I am just counting calories at www.thedailyplate.com (free). This works for me as far as losing wt but it also leaves me the freedom to eat a lot less healthy than SB. Hope this helps.

I gained a lot of weight once and found that I had to totally re-educate myself with my eating habits, I am a natural scoffer!! But just a little change at a time and I am sure you will be fine. Have a lovely 2008!

Don't fool yourself, running is not free. My husband gives me crap all the time for how much money my running costs us. Running shoes are easily $100, which need replacing around every 300 miles, then there's the clothes, the hats, and then the added gadgets like mp3 players, gps, and other hi-tech gear. It all adds up. So, in the long run (no pun intended) a $5 class sounds like a steal to me. :) Just do what you love.

I can completely relate. I've always been naturally underweight and, because I've never had to work at it, I have poor eating and exercise habits. Slowly over the past year and a half my metabolism has slowed down and now I am approaching the point where I have to so something.

Good luck with your excercise dilema, you'll find what works for you! Just thought I'd toss in my "two cents" on sewing machines! I've tried a few different brands, and have settled very happily with a Bernina. It's very well made, and the quality is very obvious. If possible, try to get your machine from a dealer(whatever brand you decide on), so you will have support in the future with any problems that may occur with your machine. I took a 2 part guide class(which was free) from the shop where I got my machine to learn how to use it. It was nice to have some support after the purchase instead of just being sent on my way with a new machine and no clue how to work it! Good luck!

Well, you could start by not baking CINNAMON BUNS! Sheesh. It's so much easier to be good in the summer, with fresh stuff from the garden and farmer's markets, but here's a new idea: the Reverse Diet. Eat dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner! I'll let you know how it works out, although the idea of broccoli before noon is revolting to me. (Oh, yeah, and welcome back, although we've already discussed that one!)

Let's chat some more about this.. spinning is great because you've got that people and financial obligation. Most times I find that if I have to just go it alone by myself, I don't go. If you want to just run for free.. I'd sign up for a running race so that you actually have a reason to run!

Hi! I'm glad to see you are back online!

I'm with you on the classes idea. Also they are indoors--I am imagining Wyoming as windy and cold in the winter which would be a problem unless (unlike me) you don't allow bad weather as an excuse! (Also--my husband is the same way. But what can you do?)

You may be paying per class, but if that's what you need to exercise it's money well spent. Everyone gets motivated in different ways.