I'm a professional dieter it seems. I am able to lose weight once I summon the will, but then the invariable happens: a stressful situation in my life and blam! - I'm heavier (than I should be) again.

I don't think dieting is rocket science. We all know how to do it - eat less, exercise more. What we look for is painless quick fix. After going up and down several times in the past 10 years, I convinced that there is really no such thing as a lasting structured diet. I think they are a great kick start for one's mindset.

When I need to lose, I generally start with Michael Thurmond's Six Week Makeover. These days I only last a week on it, then I move to low-fat high fiber. It works. I just find myself looking for the right conditions to start - a relatively stress-free environment.

Write to me with your recipe for weight loss - and for ways to reduce stress!