I haven't weighed in a while, so I'm assuming I'm still about where I was: I've lost more than 25, ALMOST 30, since starting this in late July/earlyAugust.

I've had lots of people ask me, specifically, what I'm doing to lose weight. It's not a fun answer, but it's one anyone should expect: I'm eating better AND working out. Doing both is the key. You can't just do one and expect results.

Here are a few specifics on what I'm doing. Keep in mind, this is only what works for me, and I am NOT YOUR DOCTOR OR TRAINER!!!! I had some help: I went to my doctor and she gave me this eating plan, and I went to my gym and they showed me the machines I needed to know. That's how I got started.

My doctor said I'm heading toward diabetes, but that this diet would help stop that. It's basically the low-carb diet. Here are a few tips from that:

– Yeah, no bread, sorry. The only bread I have is whole wheat. Actually, any kind of bread/cracker/cookie/whatever I can have must be whole wheat and in very limited quantities (think 2 slices a day).

– No potatoes, carrots or beets – these are pure startches and will turn to sugar immediately. It's hard to do this, especially since it seems every restaurant wants to make your only side options some kind of potato (fries, baked potato, mashed potato, potato salad) but see if they'll work with you for another side.

– Meat should be lean cuts, and little or no pork or beef.

– Nothing fried!

– Anything artificially sweetened is OK, but don't go overboard with them. I can have two servings of diet sodas a day, for example.

Again, please check with your own doctor about what kinds of foods you should eat. It's so helpful.

As for exercise, my gym worked with me on a plan when I joined. They only showed me the machines that would help me lose weight, like the cardio machines and the circuit machines. When I first joined, I basically would use the bike or elliptical machine for about 15 minutes, and then would hit the circuit for about 30. Now, I'm doing 15 of elliptical, about 15 or so walking/running on the treadmill and about 15 on circuit. Kinda had to spice it up, ya know?

One trainer showed me a few strength machines last month, so I'm sure I'll continue to work those in.

The important thing is that, no matter what machine I'm on, I'm getting my heart rate up and going for a good long steady amount of time.

So far, I have the results I'm looking for. The weight is not just falling off, but it's coming off, slowly and surely.

Some days I'll weigh a few pounds more than I did the day before, and yeah, that's a heart-breaker. But it just makes me eat a little better and work out a little harder.