At age 49, I had been 15 to 20 pounds overweight for years. And I'm short, so that much weight really affects my appearance. I'm a freelance journalist, and when Woman's Day magazine asked me to write a 3-month, daily weight-loss blog for womansday.com, I thought "This is exactly what I need: public pressure!" So I took the job. I suggested to my editor that I follow Ellie's plan because I'd always enjoyed her show on the Food Network. She seemed to make weight loss seem very do-able with just a few small changes.

I followed Ellie's suggestions for stocking a healthy pantry. I added more fruits, veggies and whole grains but didn't skimp on the protein. I cut a lot of the fats and junk per the great suggestions in her book. And I stopped drinking big glasses of juice! Her sensible suggestions made it easy to lose weight without feeling like I was starving.

I would encourage others to try Ellie's program if they are interested in losing weight at a healthy rate and if they want to eat regular foods and cook healthy meals for their family. Now I look better and I feel healthier and more confident — I actually enjoy being more active! Plus I look better in my workout clothes. And I finally bought myself a pair of white pants; first pair of I've owned in about two decades! I highly recommend Ellie's program to anyone who wants to lose weight in a healthy, real-world way.

Join Healthy Living With Ellie Krieger and get hundreds of healthy and delicious recipes to help you reach your goals. You'll also get a daily Meal Planner, grocery shopping lists, Eating Out Guides, and so much more.Join Today!