Sorors and SF,
As a research scientist and Ph.D. I highly recommend heeding HER_STORY's advice because not only are you at risk for losing weight too fast, but gaining it faster which is very dangerous to many of your organs, especially your brain AND heart.
By no means of disrespect, those of you that are classified as medically obese, you really must be under the consultation of your health care provider or you can hurt yourself with these "fad" diets. Remember, these pill manufacturers are in the business to SELL their product which may not have anything to do with weight loss science and general health.
Currently, my studies are in cholesterol research, but I am highly interested in diabetes and obesity since the two go hand in hand for some reason. And my family suffers from type 2, non-insulin dependent, adult on-set diabetes when they are classified as medically obese...
My disclaimer: I am not qualified to make a medical decision for you all...
But I do know some things about obesity and fighting off the battle of the bulge for myself. For those of you that have a less than 10 pounds to lose, you may want to pursue a "vegetarian" way of life--as close to veganism as you can stand it. I am a vegetarian because I saw my 45 year old aunt look like she was 25 and it was enough to convince me to change my eating habits. Since then, I have maintained an average weight of 125-130 lbs for the past 5 years with little exercise
(which I do not recommend--it's just I am not motivated enough to goto the gym). I am 5'6" and 32 years young...
I also had to "kill" my weight scale because of my obsession with checking my weight. Other than my lack of exercise motivation
(I will exercise, I will exercise at least 3X per week for 30 minutes), I feel pretty great being a vegetarian. There are numerous food products out there that "taste like chicken" and are totally vegetarian products!!! You really have to be creative with your cooking. I do not eat fish, chicken or any egg products. My weakness is for some dairy. I do not drink milk, but I like ice cream sometimes--I prefer Rice Dream... I like cheese, but I buy Tofurella!
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One thing though, I highly suggest "breaking down" your diet if you decide to go vegetarian. Such as stop eating red meat for awhile, then slowly kick out chicken, then fish. It's not too smart to go "cold turkey" vegetarian (no pun intended). Oh, I also haven't eaten pork for the past 10-11 years! In fact, I get sick if I smell it. I also suggest you take a safe women's multi-vitamin to supplement some of the factors you lose when you don't eat meat--it is just the difference between plants and animals...
I chose to stop eating meat because I have a philisophical difference with the meat industry. Not to disgust you all, but most of the meat is infected with stuff you cannot just "cook" away. If the industry "irradiated" the meat, it might be safer, however, folks are afraid of food technology... I'd rather have some of the irradiated "free radicals", rather than the ebola virus--but that's just me... (Just kidding--Ebola does not reside in meat). But I don't think I will ever go back to eating meat simply because I don't think it will taste the same and I won't like it.
If you want to know more about vegetarianism, please feel free to contact me.
[This message has been edited by AKA_Monet (edited October 20, 2000).]
(as far as my outer appearance is concerned) because I went in there being all hard and when I saw him and her standing up there I started to cry and had to leave before I went charging down the aisle singing "Congratulations by Vesta" 
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