I had been slim and sporty for most of my life, but when I started working and sitting all day, my weight increased. I quit smoking about three years ago, which also caused me to put on pounds. Last year I left my office job and became a Reiki master (Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative healing that involves restoring order to the body’s energy) and a natural healer. But it felt wrong to tell other people to lose weight when I was still seriously overweight myself. I needed to find a way to lose weight that made sense, a lifestyle change based on healthy living.

I found the South Beach Diet by accident when I ran into one of my students who looked better than she had in a long time. She said she’d started the South Beach Diet only three weeks before. I practically ran to get the book! To prepare myself to start, I rummaged through my kitchen, getting rid of foods that weren’t on the Beach. I also joined the Web site to get support, and used the Weight Tracker, a tool that helped me monitor my weight loss, and the meal suggestions, which included delicious recipes to kick off my healthy lifestyle.

I taped up my meal plan and the list of Foods to Avoid, which really helped me get through the first two weeks. When I entered Phase 2 and began to reintroduce whole grains and fruits, I used the Web site to find Beach Buddies with similar weight-loss goals. From the start I could tell that this is not a diet that makes you starve or do complicated things, but that this truly is a lifestyle change. I know now that salad is important, fiber helps me to lose weight, and quick-cooked vegetables make a great side dish. I avoid many ready-made products, since a lot of them have hidden sugars, refined starches, and other ingredients I don’t want to eat now. I reached a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.9 a few months ago, a major goal for me since a BMI of more than 25 is considered overweight. I also reached another goal, one I had not even set for myself: I’m lighter than my boyfriend for the first time in 12 years! When we went to a Christmas party at his workplace (and my previous employer), some colleagues didn’t even recognize me — I had dropped four clothing sizes! My ultimate goal is to weight around 143 lbs, which will put me in the middle of my healthy BMI range. I’m confident that I’ll get there; for me, the South Beach Diet is a permanent lifestyle.

FAVORITE SNACK Cashew nuts — they’re easy to take along when going out.

FAVORITE EXERCISE: I walk to shops and other close-by places instead of taking the car.

BEST COMPLIMENT: Apart from the many compliments, the best thing was the total lack of recognition from several people that I had not seen for months.

MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY WHEN FACING TEMPTATION: Just looking down and seeing my missing tummy!

BEST ADVICE FOR OTHER SOUTH BEACH DIETERS: When you keep items that you shouldn’t eat in your house, you are going to have a hard time. Look at all the wonderful items that you can have and enjoy those.