Hello all. Discovered the site while googling information about "Shapely Secrets" (which I have since decided not to try) and thought it could help me out. I only want to lose around 15 pounds, but I have a bit of an obstacle to overcome.

I evaluate hotels, restaurants, campgrounds and attractions for work. I am expected to eat at 168 restaurants per year at a minimum, tasting between 1 -3 courses (often, including dessert). I try to make the most intelligent choices I can, but it is still tough when you're not the one preparing the food. I was exercising for awhile, but I can't just do the gym alone (it bores me to tears). I really haven't gained much weight, but I'd like to trim down a bit and find a workout plan I can stick with.

Anyway, I'm going to order Turbo Jam (thanks to all the wonderful threads about it, as well as an endorsement from a good friend of mine) and go from there. Just wanted to let y'all know I'm here and that I'm open to any suggestions!

Good lord - that job must really mess with your diet! I guess you just have to balance tasting enough of the food with not taking in too many calories? A tough one!

Many people will tell you exercise is pretty essential for losing weight..but yeah, it is boring. I could never face a gym either. I walk - about an hour a day, when time/lack of depression permits.

I'd take your job in a heartbeat!

Welcome to the site, and I wish you the best of luck!!

Thanks for the support, ladies. So far, I've already lost a few pounds. I inherited my father's athletic body, so I usually respond to exercise very well. I just have to get off of my lazy @rse and do it. *LOL*

My Turbo Jam arrives late this week or early next week!

Do you have to eat each dish in it's entirety.. or can you try to take 2-3 bites of each so that you can still stick to your plan?

Good question! The thing is that the way my day works, if I'm evaluating a restaurant it usually is going to be my lunch or dinner for that day. So while it would be great to just have a few bites, that's not realistic since I do need to eat. *lol* However, I have gone back to making more sensible choices. I order a lot of seafood, try to get sides of veggies instead of potatoes (and if I do go the potato route, its baked with everything on the side), start with a salad, etc.

Just wanted to give y'all an update and tell you that things have been going well this time around! I was doing 30 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical 3-4 times a week, now I'm doing Turbo Jam. So far, I've lost about 4 or 5 pounds and I'm definitely looking more like "myself". Yay!

- Jaime

If you know you're going to be evaluating a restaurant, how about eating lighter/cleaner throughout the rest of the day... soups (a filling, low-cal choice) and salads, so you won't do as much damage to your diet. Just a thought...

So.....what are some of your favorites in Philly?

Mel