I'm 28 years old, very happily married to the most wonderful guy I have ever known. We have 12 cats and we're total nerds (by choice!).

I started my weight loss journey in June (2007) -- I love it and I love learning and sharing new ways to attain better health. A perfect body is not my goal... perfect health would be nice though!

I started blogging about my weight loss and approach on my diet blog http://www.j3nn.net -- as of November 2007, I've lost 50lbs, so far. Woo hoo!

I don't believe starving yourself to lose weight. I average 2200-2500 calories a day. I cycle/zigzag my calories, high to low and back again. One of my calorie cycles:

Sundays: 1800 calories
Mondays: 2000 calories
Tuesdays: 1400 calories
Wednesdays: 2800 calories
Thursdays: 1500 calories
Fridays: 1800 calories
Saturdays: 2100 calories

I change my calories up often!

I do HIIT on my elliptical trainer 3 or 4 days a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. Or other cardio like going up and down stairs, walking, etc. I like to switch things up and keep my body guessing.

I lift weights 3 days a week -- muscle is key to a higher metabolic burn rate. Women do NOT bulk up like men do. We don't have the hormones to do so!

I also take a free (cheat) day every week to every 2 weeks in place of the 2800 calorie day and get right back on the next day. These days I eat anything I want, without counting the calories.

I don't worry about calorie counting on holidays or special occasions. This is a game that I'm playing for LIFE and life often includes delicious, not-so-healthy foods that are ok to indulge in once in awhile.

Even when I lose more weight, I do not plan on lowering my calories. I believe in taking it slow and eating at or close to your ideal maintenance weight calories. There's no reason to diet short-term just to get the fat off. Diet for life, in an enjoyable way. Work in all your favorite foods, just use moderation and common sense.

Once you lose weight, you have to keep working at it to keep it off, so really, there is no rush. Take it slow and get plenty of exercise and good, whole foods, and leave 5 or 10% open for treats and not-so-healthy food/drink. Guilt is counter-productive.

You don't have to eat only 1200 calories a day to lose weight!!

My personal weight loss diet blog: http://www.j3nn.net

Note: Calorie-count.com doesn't let me reply to more than 2 messages in my PMs per day, so if I don't reply right away, I'm sorry! Check out my diet blog if you want to know what I eat and stuff, I post what I ate for the day in my daily entries.