A: Congratulations on your determination to pursue a healthier lifestyle! It sounds like you have a sensible approach to weight loss -- eat more healthfully, cut back on calories, and make time for exercise! With the success of shows such as "The Biggest Loser," it is understandable that people trying to lose weight are discouraged when they see contestants losing those big numbers every week. This is the exception, not the rule! People on television are usually put in artificial environments specifically designed to maximize weight loss. Their calories are severely restricted - often below 1,000 calories - and their exercise routine is extremely rigorous. Oftentimes, they are under the supervision of a physician due to the high-risk nature of such a situation. In addition, several hours a day are devoted to proper eating and exercise, which ordinary people like you and I cannot do. The value of shows such as "The Biggest Loser" is that it shows people that they are not destined to a life of being overweight. Your body can change, if you do the right things! But if you are not a weight loss television show, keep in mind that 3,500 calories equals one pound of fat. To lose one pound per week, you would need to cut 500 calories per day through diet and exercise. This is challenging enough under the circumstances of everyday life. So if you are losing a pound per week that is certainly something of which you can be proud. And remember ... slow and steady wins the race! -- Karen Bryla McNees, Ed.D., R.D.