He says it was mutual, but it wasn't really - I just didn't think I could spend the rest of my life with him, so we decided to go back to friends after a year of dating, tears, falling in love, and growing.  I still call him my best friend and I'm lucky that hasn't changed, but there were so many reasons for us to stay together and I still wonder if we would have been happiest that way.

The result of this is: I come home from work and watch Grey's Anatomy until dinner, then eat, then facebook, xanga and watch more Grey's and anime until I either IM him in tears or go to bed.

Weight loss is a personal process and what works for one person may prove disastrous for the next, but in my personal quest to lose the twenty pounds I put on in university, here's what I learned about myself and dieting.

Tip: Buy a scale and weigh yourself every morning.
Why: Constant feedback is important so you know what works and what doesn't.  If you lost weight since the previous day (or week) then look at why and keep doing it.

Tip: Bring snack food.
Why: If you are losing weight, you will be hungry.  Healthy snacks like nuts, veggies and dip, and fruit take the edge off and keep your metabolism up so your diet doesn't become counter-productive.

Tip: Keep a food diary and count calories.
Why: Learn how many calories you need to maintain your weight.  While calorie calculators are handy for a guideline, caloric requirements are not a one-size-fits-all and your needs can vary quite a lot from what you think they are.  You are also more likely to watch what you eat if you have to write it down.

Tip: Knowledge is power!
Why: Knowing how much weight to lose and how fast will help you stay healthy and keep the weight off once you have reached your goals.  Joanne Larson's Healthy Body Calculator is a great resource, as is her entire site.

Tip: Everything in moderation, even moderation.
Why: If you let yourself have some chips on the weekend or go out for dinner once a week you can satisfy your cravings without going off track.  It's a lot harder to keep up a strict diet all the time and you're less likely to keep it up.

Tip: Eat less, not differently.
Why: Your diet is not designed to last only until you have reached your weight goal; if you go back to eating the way you used to, then you will go back to the weight you used to be.  Cutting down the amount you eat reduces the number of calories you consume, and you are more likely to sustain an adjustment in portion size.

Do you have any tips that worked for you?  How much did you lose or how much are you trying to lose?